Leach Library Trustees - Regular Meeting

I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. This evening, um, basically it's a workshop for the budget. So that's all the the only business we'll be doing. Okay. And Is this yours? No, I think it's yours. I have to get mine out of my

So, as our treasurer Jan Mhm. um would you like to run the rodeo? All right. Be happy to do that if that's if that's what you'd like. Yes, I would love that. You can explain your process and what you've done and then we'll start looking at the line items. Okay. Okay. So, great. Thanks.

The uh budget that is available on the orange sheet that has the extra black lines on it. Um this one is the uh one that has all of the different possibilities on here. This is the um received in FY26 which is in fact the default budget. The FY27 request by the library director and her notes. The FY27 request by myself which is you know has not been approved by the board. um the difference between myself and the um FY27 and then um but that's the first one is from FY26 and the second is from um FY27 uh well Aeron's numbers and then um the information on the treasurer's notes. So um uh so um because the um colas were in or out um this past year um we received uh $68484 from

684,000

yeah $684,884 and in the 2025 budget which uh for some reason I didn't get on there is 664129. So um we uh I did an increase of 104% from the 2026 totals. The 2026 total did include the full 300 and uh 32,500 or 30 whatever budget uh for the uh children's librarian position um and the money for the other position. Um so um it's 4% um above is what um I had recommended. Aaron's recommendation is 7.8% 8%. Um, I guess it's 7%. 6 and a half. Six. And

you're talking for the total budget, not just for those line items. No, I'm talking for your line items. My total budget. The sal. You're talking salary right now, right? I'm talking salary. Yeah. Yeah, we're looking at the salary right now. Okay. If you want to talk total, we can talk total. I'm sorry. No, we should we should go by.

Okay. So um uh so for that's for regular salaries of the um children's librarian position is in the part-time salaries. So in fiscal year 2025 um the approved amount is 396250. The 2025 um uh actuals we don't have the actual we do. Um, I'm sorry I got lost. Um, did we just discuss the the two the full-time and the regular? I mean the full-time and part time. I'm in the part-time right now. That's okay. Thank you. Go ahead. Y

part-time salaries, which is where the um uh 396 250, right? 396 250, but this is where the uh children's librarian position is included in that. Um, and the librarian's request is 413222 and uh my request is 412 100. So there's a difference of 1,122 between the two. Um, I have different I'm looking at different numbers. I'm going to use them, too. Oh, okay. I see where you are now. I'm just going straight across. Okay. Use the white one. If you use the white one look very similar.

If you use the white one, you can just kind of do something like that and you know turn it over turn one page over and you can kind of you know you kind of do this and then you can kind of see where you are. Yeah, they do have the same colors on them so it's confusing. Um I have a Can we have discussion once now that we're talking we're looking at just salary now? Okay. right now regular salaries and the part-time salaries

and um I guess my first question and I would direct that at Patrick and Kate's here too right yeah the question I have is that following our lawyers were you know uh instructions we have re we've restructured the um policy for the personnel policy and it's going to be voted on this budget's probably going to get passed before it's voted on. So, what we haven't done um when this is built with all the um expenses for cola and for merit, if that's removed, then there'll be, you know, that would be a savings on this to the budget. Yes. Well, what I can speak to is um I think two or three years ago uh we reduced the merit increase from 5% to 3 and a half% and that was a recommendation the budget committee made to the trustees. The trust we did not make that change or the change was not made in the budget until the policy was changed because if in the event that the policy did not get voted and was approved, we don't want to change the budget for an unapproved policy. And so said I'll take that back to the board. She did. it was passed and um then it was changed afterwards. But I would be leerary about making changes in the budget before policy has been approved because that historically has have been that process

was the merit, right? Yeah, that's what the merit cola. Yeah, that's that's where what actually I was going in that direction. I think we need to cover ourselves so that the budget, you know, if that those changes aren't made then I think we need to cover oursel. My only concern is that, you know, if we have that extra money because of that at the end of the, you know, budget year, I want to see that go back to the town.

Yeah. Well, we've made changes. It's only October, right? So, we can make changes to the budget up until basically the deliberative session in February. So, the budget will know by then for several months, back and forth, back and forth as as it goes. So, um I in my opinion I think what is in the current policy should be what we keep in the budget for now and then it can be changed later on down the road if need be. But Patrick, do you concur with that or would you like I I concur entirely with Kate? I think that then in my opinion that's the right way to go and that's you know I I think we should leave that right now in in the policy you know in the budget. Yep. Depending what happens to the policy. Yep. Okay.

Uh comments. Yes. So couple of things madam if I may madam chair um you keep speaking you spoke just a moment ago about changes to the cola but the last meeting you said there were no changes to the cola so I know we have to explore that with the personnel policy but I just want to so the audience understands are is there going to be a change in the cola

my understanding is that it's it's not going to be included but it should be considered as an employer okay the the only reason they that uh the lawyer suggested not writing it into the budget is that if you end up like they have to take they take money away from you. You don't get the budget you're anticipating. Where are you going to get the they said the only way you can do it is cut your cost to you know to be if you've if you've committed in the policy in the bud you know the but the personnel policy hasn't been committed to anything yet right now. No that's why we're not that's why we're not going to change it right now.

Okay. So my other question is if we're just going to if we're voting line by line, which I I think it seems like we are. Yeah. Is is the is the proposal on the table right now to go with my suggestion or Jance? I I got lost. That's the only reason I'm asking. Well, your your suggestion does not include both of those merits and and

it does. It does that. I worked with Justin on that. So they include both the cola and if everyone were to get a merit that's what that includes and that's to prepare for if everyone does get a merit then that budget is prepared well if they don't then yes there would be some extra money but that just how it's worked. We don't we can't anticipate how someone what merit someone's going to get. So that's we need to we need to to right now vote on what we anticipate the rules are right now. That's that exact exact I agree with you. I just don't know. Yes. So, mine does does represent that. However,

um I do re I do I know Justin did put forth a default budget as well, which I would recommend going with that default budget for the salaries is what I'm speaking of. Okay. And within the default budget, did it address colar and merit? It did. And did it leave it in or change? It left it in because that's what currently is is actual right now. Okay. That's 684884. That's the default. Yep. I was gonna say, could we ask Jen one, could we ask Jan to clarify maybe how she got her numbers and why they're different than Eron's then? Just wondering if you could ask. Okay.

I used uh uh 4% as an increase instead of um 6.5% which is what um the cola plus the um maximum um merit for everybody to take. So why so you said you used four? I I used 4%. Why did you use the four? Was that because of the anticipated potential cut I just used? Yes. Because of the ant anticipated potential cut of the cola and the merit. So I used 4% versus which is more than the 3% cola. I figured there's going to be a might be a change in the cola and uh so that's where I calculated it.

I guess the question is oh go ahead. I mean, with all due respect, I think we have to plan for a budget that with the highest potential, which would be the 6 and a half% and then again, as Kate said, we can make those adjustments later if that change does happen in the personnel policy. I'm concerned with putting forth a budget that is not what potentially could happen because it will leave our budget in a a really tough situation. Um, so my I'm sorry, don't don't know. Um, right now you said you're using 6 and 12%. Yep. Isn't Is the cola 3 and a half%? Nope. The COLA is three. Our the highest merit is three and a half. Okay. All right.

So that's it. Everybody if if nothing changes in the personnel policy and everybody gets whatever they deserve. So everyone's going to get the 3% cola. This is in a a a world current. Um, everyone would get the 3% cola and then if everyone does well, then they would get their three and a half merit. That's that's a plan for the potential good. Yes. Um it's not always that case, but we can't plan for not that just in case. We have to plan for the highest so that we can be prepared. And as Kate mentioned, we can always make those changes later on. We have plenty of time to to adjust if the board ends up voting that through. Okay. And I I understand that perfectly. You clarified it. That's what I just needed. Um Nancy,

that was essentially what I was going to say. I think when when we're preparing budgets, I mean, you know, we've all been at this for a while, sometimes it's easier to go down rather than up. Once you've set a budget at X number of dollars, it's more challenging to add back. But to Kate's point, you know, we this is like a living document and we can adjust it if need be. That's item number one. Item number two is um I would not want us want to see us offer anything less than um cola because we we have employees you know they have budgets as well. So, and in an effort to keep our environment competitive, if you will, I would think that we would want our cola not to be lower than Kate, what's it called? CPI.

Uh, yeah, consumer price index, right? We wouldn't want it to be lower than that. And um, you were on the subcommittee that um, reviewed what Hannah said. I I was not. Oh, you were not. Okay. I'm sorry. That's I'm sorry. No, Helen was. Yes. You were what Hannah sent us. Yes. Loud. I beg you. It was you and Jan and Helen. You used the word budget. I was I thought it wasn't a budget. Yeah. The personnel policy. Yeah. So, and um

I think I think her her idea was that you don't write it into the policy that you have to do it because you may not be able to afford to do it. But by the same token, I I got the impression that it was like it's either one of them. It's up to the employer. I mean up to the the company you want to say right you know to allow that to happen right but we have to have money to offer yes so I'm suggesting the same thing that we should go with the budget that would meet those that financial need best

we keep talking about um Hannah's advice but again unless the whole board has seen Hannah's advice it will make it very hard for us to all be on the same page I will tonight I will uh tonight I will send that out to you. I promise. Okay. So, you'll get that. Am I the only one that hasn't seen it yet? No. Okay. Cuz this is so important for all of us to be on the same page. And again, the personnel policy has not been written. So, we have to write this as if we're not making any changes. We have to build our budget. Yeah. Because it hasn't it's been written not passed. Yeah. We have Yeah. hasn't even been written yet. There's a a committee that wrote the policy. That's a whole another it's a whole another ball game. But

um Helen Jan I appreciate you explaining that. Thank you. Um that helps. And I think hearing now Erin's perspective and knowing what we know from Kate and from Patrick that we should stick with Erin's numbers to make sure we account for that then. Would you like to? Sure. I'd like to make a motion that we use the numbers. No, no, no. Oh, D. I said to stick with Justin's number. So we were talking about the default number which is on this. It's not on the same spreadsheet. Sorry after the blue line document. So Justin prepared an FY27 default budget that the regular salary number is 707974 and the part-time salary number is 406057.

Okay. It's right at the top there. The two top Got it. Yep. Yep. Yep. And just so we're all clear, it's the blue one. Yep. It's two top numbers. And those do 707 974 and then the 406 right below it. And what what's on your on yours? What did you have it on yours? What's on yours? So did Justin. This came out after I did mine. So I had the for the 691 459.

Nope. The 706 698. So, mine was just a little bit lower and then the 404 413 was mine and this one was 406, so it was a little bit higher, but um I would go with Justin's numbers. Um I believe changes have been made after I did mine. Um there were some numbers that he received that were more accurate. Do I have a motion? I make a motion that we use the numbers for part-time and regular salaries that are on the default budget. Second discussion, anyone? What is the budget? I'd like to hear from the budget committee. I'm okay with the default budgets, especially if they came from Justin. I I I I trust Justin finance-wise with a lot. So,

and Patrick, I have no reason to dispute the default budget given that we only got one number. I don't know what the break is coming into it. So, I'll go with Justin. Okay. Then, we have a nomination. Uh, I'd like to call for vote. Beth, uh, Beth Marco. Um, no. Jam. Yes. Helen Hillary. Yes. Nancy Hendricks. Yes. Liz Thomas. Oh, Mora. I'm sorry. Mora. Mora. One second. I'm adding. Yeah, she's doing a math. I should have done that. Madam Chair, is it okay to make a quick comment in between? Go right ahead cuz Sorry.

Just very quickly, um, for the purpose of information, the CPI as of the end of August 2025 is 2.9%. that's rolling 12 months from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And as I do my math, the change in the default suggested budget from the town director 685884 is the change that divided by um the 2026 budget. I'll have to get back to you, but so far I'm calculating that it's just over 3%. The change. Okay. And the CPI is at 2 2 seasonally adjusted. That's a rolling 12 months. Yeah. Yeah. So, we'll just to give people a little It's close. So, we're in the ballpark is what you're saying. It's in the ballpark.

Okay. And more when you're ready. Um I'm going to say yes. Okay. Motion passed. All right. It's going to the budget department. So, they're going to the budget committee. They're going to look at it, I'm sure. Okay. Um Jan. Yep. Just second. Yeah.

Okay. All right. So there's those two numbers. So um the next couple of numbers are numbers that we don't change because those are provided by the town. Um we come down to tuition reimbursement. Um that remains the same as was uh requested in FY26 and both Aaron and I stayed with that number. Um, so that's kind of staying staying uh straight. The next one, workers comp. Again, madam chair, are we I'm sorry. I'm sorry, J. I just Are we voting on each line?

We if there Yes. If it did No, if like the salaries, you vote one thing. Now, this section here, okay, we we've talked about tuition reimbursement and was there are there some other things we can roll in it? Well, tuition reimbursement is exactly the same no matter which I'm saying. I just didn't The only reason I was asking I didn't know if other people had any input on that. That's the only reason I was asking. That's fine. But it's no change to it. Yeah. Right. So, um what is the next thing after tuition reimbursement? Oh, workers comp. We don't change. No, we can't. Yeah. The uncontrollables we

Yeah, we should vote on tuition reimbursement before we get into management services. I actually recommended the the what you spent in fiscal year 2025, which is about $225 higher, just to reflect the reality. I think if we're building budgets, it should reflect the reality of what actually gets spent. Um, you know, that's where that balancing comes from, right? Like if you have $40,000 budget in one line item over three years, but every year you only spend 30. You really shouldn't be budgeting $40,000 every year for that. This is one of those that seems to always be a little bit higher based on prior fiscal years as well. Also, I just thought it should at least meet what was spent in fiscal year 2025. But that that was my only difference between what Aaron presented and and um what Jan presented. So,

okay. So, we're looking at the 477 is what you're talking about right now, right? I think. Am I on the right line? Yeah. Tuition reimbursement. We're looking at which Oh, which form? Yeah. Tuition reimbursement in on the orange form on the orange and looking across. That's what it is. Yeah. Tuition reimbursement. The 47 account number is 47 40 4-00. Yep. No, I'm near 4770. That's what I was and that's 4770 is what I've also uh and Kate, your figure was

mine was 4995 to reflect what was spent in fiscal year 25. It was about $225 higher just to reflect the reality of spending. So, okay. And Erin, you had a question. You had a No, I was just going to clarify that I didn't know if we wanted to. Those are the two numbers I feel like are up in the air right now. The 4770 and the 4995. I didn't I didn't 225. I think 225. I didn't know if we wanted to do a vote on or discussion on which number the board wanted to vote on, but that was the my only because I just wanted to make sure we included Kate's suggestion. Jan,

I think that um it it has bounced around for actual versus um we have been way up in um 2023. It was much lower in um 2022. um it was um higher in 2024 and um 2025, you know. Um so I don't know. It's Are you comfortable adding the 295? Well, the problem is I I understand it's only 200 and some dollars, but every time you add dollars in,

um it it affects everything, you know, going across. So, um, uh, I have no problem doing it as long as we realize that we've got other areas that are in in deeper yogurt perhaps. Um, that may be a problem. Yes. I'd like to remind people though, it's a fraction of a penny, correct? Per household like like a fraction of a fraction. Like it's it's it doesn't even add up. You're not going to miss it. Like

um Yes. Yes. So, um, I I think it's kind of pointless to spend 20 or 30 minutes talking about $225. So, I would actually like to make a motion that we accept or move forward with the $4,995. And if we need to adjust it later, we can adjust it later. I think your number's off. You said $4,400. No, 495 is what? She said 95. I did. Would you like me to I make a motion that we go with the recommendation? uh recommendation prepared by our director for $4,995. That's actually from that recommendation. It's in your budget. Yeah, that's what we spent last year.

Okay, there we go. Second. Roll call. More come back to me. Okay. I back. Um no. J Mlofflin. Yes. Helen Palm Mary. No. Liz Thomas. Yes. Nancy members, I'm torn on this because we've had different situations and reasoning for those different variances in those years. Well, I think the vote passed though, right? No, she hasn't voted. She doesn't She should still be able to vote, but No. Yeah, but it's not going to change what the outcome is. You want You still need to I'm going to vote no. Okay. So, we have

So, it's three to three. Three to three. So the motion doesn't pass. So So now what? No. No. How could it be three to It's not three to three. This This only four. It's four to two. To four pass. It did. Okay. I think the it didn't pass, right? No, it didn't pass. Did you vote yes or no? Liz voted no. I voted no. You voted no. Okay. Oh, Mora voted no. Jan, what did you you voted no? So that's three to three. That's what I'm saying.

That's what I said at first. It didn't pass, but that leaves us with Do you want to suggest going what we have that go ahead? I make a motion that we just keep the number as is just to keep things moving 4,770 and we'll revisit another time if necessary. Okay. So, um roll call vote for that. Okay, please. Right. Did you want to have discussion more for Jan? No. Okay. Mora. Yes. Beth Mar. Yes. Jan Mclofflin. Yes. Helen Perry. Yes. Liz Thomas. Yes. Motion. Okay. That motion passed. Okay.

Okay. Workers comp. Again, that's a number provided to us. That's uh 4260. So, we're going to skip down to management services. This is where there is a organizational change here. um because management services was the line where all of the program well most of the program expenses um got uh put um uh and the other ones were broken out um and we'll see them later in the um in the time. So, um, when it says received, uh, 21481 in fiscal year, uh, 2026, the default number for this one is

um, [Music] services, I'm sorry, 21481.

Yes. Again, it's it's it's the same number there in this case. Um, all right. Um but the request uh for the direct by the director is 4,314 and um uh that's because the the program expenses are in in another set of lines and this is basically the um the swag that is given that is bought for various um programs by that I just mean all the things that we give out, the frisbes, the playing cards, things like that, right? Frisbes, playing cards, whatever um

that are used for promotion for our summer programs, right? Well, not just summer programs, but $4,314. And I recommended $4,000, which I just thought $4,000 was okay. Um and uh I say we'll see how it breaks out as we get down to the rest of the management services, which are further down. So, can I I just want to get So, that was just your opinion. That wasn't based on anything financial. That was your opinion. You felt the $4,000 was enough for quote swag. Yes. Okay. I just want to make sure it wasn't financial. Yeah. No, no, it was just it was just, you know, it was a number.

Um, couple of things. The $4,000 that you recommend, um, other things come out of that line item even after we remove um, those programs than just SWAG. So, $4,000 wouldn't cover um would if you did gave me $4,000 for swag, nothing else would be covered. Um and I wouldn't spend $4,000 on swag. I'd spend it on the other necessary things. Um the other thing I just wanted to mention is that um we we spoke at the at another meeting. I believe it was the last meeting, and I apologize. I'm not 100% sure. Um that separating the line items out and pulling money from the line items to put in separate line items could be very risky. Um there was a suggestion, I believe it was by Justin, to um create those line items, but put to put zero dollars in them so that we don't have that risk of losing all that money if we go into default. Um so we could do that this year is create those line items with a zero and then next year separate them out so that they wouldn't have the risk of losing in default. Um certainly that if the budget committee wants to speak to that, but I I think that might be a healthy recommendation is to create those line items with zero in them, keep the money in management, and then next year separate them out.

Yeah, that makes sense. But certainly the other I I guess my opinion is that any risk that you have this year is going to be the same thing every year. So, well, no, because those line items will already be in the default for the following the next year. So we wouldn't have the risk of losing them because they'd be in there for a full year with no dollar amount. Um any questions to guests? So what other things besides the swag is comes out of this management? Um I believe it listed in mine. It says um online calendar, museum pass system, the movie license, annual fee, and signage. Okay. And all and a number of other random things. But all we're discussing right now is this one line number.

Yes. That's the stuff that comes out of that. We're not talking about Justin's suggestion of of the But that this line item affects those line items. Yes. So that's why I brought it up. Okay. But Okay. So, did we have a motion? Right. No. Yeah. I didn't make No, I don't think there was a motion. Okay. Does anyone Jan, do you want to discuss uh anything more on that? No. I just Jan, can I ask a follow-up question? So, I just want to make sure I understand then because so that you I'm sorry. Trying to keep all my copies straight here. Um, so you only have the 4,000 in here because you have the other things accounted for somewhere else because of the line item change. Correct. I split it out.

Okay. Uh, Aeron's asked for $4,314 and I asked for $314 less. Okay. I just want to make sure that we weren't cutting it by the 17. That number is just being accounted for somewhere else. Okay. Just clarifying for myself. Kate, any ideas on that? Um, well, my concern is I kept my my number was the same as Aerin's number, but the fact that it's not just Swag. It is the museum pass. It is it is the online calendaring system. It is a couple of other subcripts and things that don't really fit anywhere else. Um, and so I kept the number the same as errands. So, therefore, you're talking 4,314,

correct? Yes. My take is that that's a real figure. Yes. Not a not an like an imaginary. Oh, it' be nice to leave an even number. Yes. Okay. Uh Patrick, I'm sorry. I want to just have your opening. No comment. No comment. Okay. Uh yeah, Nancy. Donna. Um I just wanted to ask Kate and Patrick if you're okay with it. Um to comment on the risk of losing the money in default. I'd like some clarification on that too. the separating the because I feel like we've spent so much time talking about making sure we get numbers into correct lines and that we're on the precipice of getting there but now I'm concerned when I hear this e extra piece and I want to make sure I'm clear.

I think we just should go with what's here. I mean what Erin suggested that's that's what I think because it was it it was a real figure. It was a real number.

Is it okay if you just explain to help us understand about the default part? Would that be okay if Patrick whoever I just my own understanding. So the default budget is generally based off of what last year's budget was plus increases that are contract or contractually obligated. So if one of these like the calendar systems the museum passes for example uh we are contractually obligated to pay for them um like once a year every 3 years and we had a contractual term that would now be included in the default budget. If it weren't it would just be whatever it was last year. And so the risk to that is as we're splitting some of these things out and we're saying this is now part this will now be part of the default budget if the default budget passes and it wasn't part of the default budget because now we split it into a new line item you could lose that money because it's now a different category that never existed before. Um so you would get what was ever in the management line services last year but that may not be adequate for um some of the other changes that are made. Erin,

um just to be clear, that um system that we speak of, the event calendar of museum pass system is a last year we paid $1,600 for it. So um that would be a healthy chunk of that 4,000. Patrick, any comments on that? Um I have nothing to add to what Kate says. Um I remind everyone that Kate is um an experienced member of the budget committee. This is my first year, so I will defer to her. your budget number this evening. Thank you. That's a smart move. Okay. Um any more discussions before we make ahead? Um in the um uh in Aeron's number if 1500 is the actual cost of the calendaring program.

1600 1,500 16 1600 Okay, 1600. Um there's 100 more. Then you've got uh 27 uh4 20 comes to 4314, but we also have a movie license annual fee and other random things that come out of that line item. So it would just mean that would be less for swag, which is what if the board wants that, that's totally fine. But my my job would be to pay those contractual payments first before I buy swag. Yep.

And if you're talking about museum passes and things like that, I I I don't consider that a swag, you know. No, it's not. This is just the database that controls the reservation for that. Oh, yeah. So, this is not museum passes. It's just the database that houses them and allows our public to request them through online along with the um calendar. It's a service we're talking about. Yep. It make it allows our public to see what we're doing. Yes. So, Madam Chair, I would make a motion that we go with the uh recommendation from the director um for this line item 4330-0000 of $4,314. Second. Second. Okay. Roll call. Laura.

Yes. Yes. Back. Yes. Jan Mclofflin. Yes. Helen Palary. Yes. Liz Thomas. Yes. Nancy Hendricks. Well, it took a long time to come to our Great. We're gonna keep moving along. I think we'll be out of here before midnight. Okay. Yes. Yes. I'm gonna break that down. Hallelujah.

Then we go to custodial services. Um the uh FY26 we received 28 um 367. Um the budget in 2025 was 27 27 540. So um Erin had recommended 31201 um and she is anticipating a 3% increase or the cleaners in in looking at a 3% increase and um I did uh 2% more than actual 2025. Um so that's how I calculated my number. Um so your number

my number is 22 $28,091 which is a difference of uh $276 um from the received in FY26 and or not received but um anticipate or approved in 2026. There we go. And the uh uh difference from the uh director is $3,110. discussion.

Sure. So, I actually think that this is a fair number in terms of the director's recommendation because I too hire cleaning committees or companies and this is actually a very modest increase. I just prepared a budget for my company and my cleaning service went up 8 and a half%. So, you're exactly right. So, in the real world, this is a realistic This is a very, very attractive. I will take this in a minute. You'd come in and clean. Yes, man. Yeah. So, I think that this is a fair recommendation. Erin,

um just to clarify my number, so in the past or this year even, um we took the carpet and upholstery cleaning out of maintenance and repairs. Um I'm putting it into custodial services because I feel like it is a custodial service. It's not by our custodial company, but it could be. Um or we could just hire out like we did this year. So that's why there was that additional funding in there was to move that amount toward there and also include um as Jan mentioned the 3% increase. My cleaning company did say they were going to do that to us this year and they did not yet. Um so I definitely anticipate it for next year. Um and I also anticipate I give a 2% increase for the carpet cleaning because in case we go with the this past year the board voted on a particular company there could be another vote for a different company. So to anticipate that increase. So that's where my um increases came from um for that line item just to clarify where I came up with that number. I am curious Jan why you went less on ours from last from what we received.

Um because I calculated it from 2% of the 2025 action. That's all. Okay. Um, I do think it makes sense to I think it's properly placing um, you know, the cleaning into that into that line number. I think it was probably not the right line number before. And you know what? If she comes in next year under, then we just give it back to the taxpayers. They'll be so happy. They'll be so happy. I'm happy. I'm I belong to this stuff. Okay.

And I've already cut down, just so the board knows, we used to get the carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning. Actually, Don can speak to this because it was like this when I came in twice a year. I've cut it down to once a year um for savings. So, I am trying to look at those savings and see where I can save. It's not a huge amount of money saved, but it is, you know, could be a couple grand a year um just cutting it down to once a year. So, that's my which we appreciate. Yes. So, Madam Chair, I would make a motion that we move forward with the uh director's recommendation of $31,21 for line item 4360- Second roll call. We're going to start here. Nancy

Nancy Hendricks. Yes. Liz Thomas. Yes. Helen Palary. Yes. J Mlofflin. No. Beth Marco. Yes. Moral Rain. Yes.

Okay. Motion pass. Okay. Electrical services 4410 is the account number. Um the FY27 request is for by the the well FY26 received is um $40,211. Um request by the librarians is 41,418. Um, mine is 40,168 and I did a 3% uh over the 2025 actual. Um, so that's my question.

Well, as Oh, go ahead. Um so I actually looked at um electricity cost costs per the um the Fed bank and the uh Bureau of Labor Statistics from the government and over the last five years we have um the average price of electricity has gone up 6.77%. Um so my recommendation is based off of the 6.7% not 3% because the rising cost of energy is actually greater than 3%. Um, and I would hate for the the library not to be able to cool the building in the summer or have to keep temps higher than would be normally comfortable because they're worried about energy bills. Um, so my recommendation was slightly higher than errands. It was 42,933 and28. So, 151528 higher than

42 what? The Bureau of Labor Statistics um, they put out the average cost of energy part of the CPI calculation. Um over the last 5 years, um the average cost of energy has gone up 6.77%. Um in 2020 to 2021 it was 5.4. 2021 to 2022 was 15.96. 2022 to 2023 it was 2.23%. 2023 to 2024 it was 4.02. 2024 to 2025 it was 6.19. So the average of that is 6.77. So, and what was your figure? Um, it was 42,93328.

Yeah. No, Jim, go ahead. So um uh there has been some cost savings that we have um come across with the change in the um heating and cooling um sensors that has has happened. So, um I don't know if we need to go up the full um 6.9%. Um uh but so that's that's one of the issues um with the numbers. I'd like to see it keep clean at what you we had 429 something just at 43. Because I'll tell you right now, I'm retired from National Grid. I know that the prices are going up. I've already been told that and uh you know they're already negotiating with the with the uh you know u to to get a bigger you know a higher in you know

increase increase. Yeah. Yes. I agree. Huh. I'm concurring with you. It's happening now everywhere. I mean even at my building our like our costs have gone up and so I I would rather be safe than sorry. So, I just was saying instead of 42.90, so I'll make it 43. Round up. Make it 43. Round it up. That's what I was just saying. Make it clear. Yeah. Yes. Sarah,

um I just wanted to one agree with what you're recommending. But also keep in mind that um there was discussion I believe before we reached in the summer um where how we cut our summer hours um for because it's not as busy blah blah blah. We will discuss that. So, if the board does decide to put those summer not cut summer hours, this could affect that cost as well. So, I think um to keep that in mind, if the board decides that we don't want to do summer hours and we keep the hours full as we do throughout the year, um that's a number that could be affected by this. So, just to keep that in mind. So, I do I I'm still comfortable with the 43 right now because we don't know what that increase from Yeah.

electric will be exactly. Um but keep that in mind for going forward. the board might want to just have that in the back of their head as we go forward to deciding next summer. So, so I I agree in planning and being safe and sorry and so I would agree with you. I'm going to make a motion that we increase this line item 4410-0000 to $43,000. Second. Roll call. Nancy Nancy Hendris. Yes. Liz Thomas, yes. Helen Peri, yes. Jan Mclofflin, yes. Yes. More rain. No. Okay. So, was 42,000 even? Yeah. 43,000. 43,000.

43. 43,000. Thank you, Kate, for that information. You're welcome. Yes.

Um, heating and oil services. This is um traditionally an area where we have um quite a bit of room from the approved to actual. Um uh in 2023 the budget was 22677 and we spent 1420469. Um in 2024 it was 23 and change and we spent 139. Um in 2025 it was 231 and we spent um actual

15237 15 okay 15237. So this is an area that I think we need to right size a little better. And um so Aaron asked for um uh $3,000 from this line from 2026 be moved to electronic books and databases. Um I just went with um uh going uh above the uh amount that we actually spent in 2025. Um and so I went with 16,000. I'm sorry. What is the figure? 16,000.

16. Thank you. And versus um 20 131 which is what Aaron had recommended. Well, traditionally apparently the last three or four years we've been budgeting over budgeting on that in this line. Yes.

In this line number particularly Aaron. Um, I just want to point out that, um, yes, I did recognize that we've been over budgeting in this line item, and that's why I moved that money to a different line item where we where we we could really use it. Um, I I think it's been said to me by not only the public, but people members on this board that I tend to stash money into this line item. I do not. It was more of a preparation for those costs going up and what that could anticipate. And this was again a number that the board did vote on and move forward with. So, um I I my intent was not to stash money in this line or keep it as a moment where I can spend it somewhere else. It was to prepare for any increases. Traditionally, it looks like those increases have not happened. And that's why I'm offering to move some of that money to a line item that would be more useful and more well spent. So, I recognize that we were um kind of underspent in that line and I'm trying to make it right. So, I do not stash money in this line.

Okay. All I want to say. So, Your suggestion is I'm just my 20,131 and that's just for and that's just for heat and that's and that's and then but the difference for the 3,000 you're hoping to go into management services. Nope. Hoping to go into electronic books and databases. Oh yeah. So because that is where that money is needed. So um that was instead of just removing that money altogether, I felt it could be useful in a different line. Okay. We're still at the quandry of you're saying 20,000. I'm saying 20,000 and I believe Jan Jan was saying 15,000 16. Yeah. Just for I mean and we have never spent what that much money on heating.

Uh not in the last No. The average heating home home oil heating price has over the last 5 years because again you don't want to look at big swings year over year about 9% increase over the last 5 years. How much 9%. I thought she said 90. No, not like we don't be free. Do we do oil or do we have heart?

Yeah, I was comfortable with Aaron's number given that she did take money out of it, but the 90% again oil prices fluctuate relatively wildly. One year it was like a 50% increase. Another it was like zero. So, you know, because it fluctuates so wildly, I was like, sure, that seems reasonable considering we spent about 15, where was it? 15 237. Um yeah, I thought the 2131 was reasonable. Um because we don't if we have a really cold winter, we don't want to,

you know, and the money that gets put given back to the town goes into the undesated fund balance which then gets used to fund like um um maintenance trust funds. So all of those different maintenance trust funds that we have, cemetery trust funds. And then you don't see those warn articles asking for more money to fund those. Um, so that's where that money goes. So it because it's almost like an invisible hand of sorts and you don't see that money being put in the trust funds. You don't see the warrant article going on there. That money does stay within the town. It does help out taxpayers at some point eventually. Um, but yeah. So again, we're over, right? I'm sorry. We can't have public comment.

Well, I just want to know how are we heated? Oil. Okay. Yes. Oil. I'm sorry. Yeah, that was a great question. Thank you. So again, if we're over then Yeah. Um okay. Okay. My concern is if we build up the say 4,000 more or something in it, will it get we get to the point where the all of a sudden that the budget committee is going to say, "Oh, you've been building it up. We're going to take away and it gets taken away from somewhere we need it more." Would y'all I would not rest.

So they can't tell us where to cut from. They can tell us you need to cut a percentage or an amount and we the board decide and then we can decide at that point. Yeah. They don't they just say you guys need to cut. You do not have the power to do that. Advised say hey you should do I thought you guys were like gods. No thankfully no conversation mora I'll give right to you. So, if I take the actual figure and add 9%, I come out with 16,680. And I think we should do that. I'd like to make a motion that we do 6,000 16,680 for this line item. Do we have a second? I'll second. We'll have a motion. We'll have discussion. Okay. Discussion.

Can I just ask if that if the board votes on that to please move the difference to a line item where it's needed? Um, electronic books and databases. Okay. You're just saying that you can accept a almost if the if the board votes on that I would like the difference of that to move to a line item instead of just cutting it all together. That would be my my request. Um, you I understand the the rationale, but for all these other budget lines when we've increased or cut, we've just been doing it for that budget line, not um I understand we can decide when we get to that budget line where it's going to come from. But this is another place where it's been split out. Yeah.

So, it's going to be a funny number um because it's the the money uh was for books and periodicals and included all that stuff. Now books and periodicals is separate from the electronic stuff which is separate from um something else. So it makes sense that being it's being split out. It makes sense that we're going to move it somewhere and I guess I just won't I don't want to say yeah we promised to do that. It's probably going to happen. But you know we've heard we heard what you said that would I'm just ask heard what you said. I just I have a lot of concerns for those line items that have been taken out. And if we have too much money in here and you need something else there, you know, 2016.

Okay. Did we do we have a motion? Second. Okay. Uh roll call. Nancy I think it's 16,608 or 80. No, 80. 08 is the 9% or 09 15,237 times 9% I get $16,68.33. Oh, I'm saying 16,680. So you're rounding up. Mhm. Okay. Then I'll second that motion.

Done. Can I just add one um thing that the 9% you're adding to is last year's. So there's still this whole year that we'll be spending heat on. Um so if anything, if 9% spend the average increase, I would recommend an 18% increase on the FY25, but that is only a note. Okay. Um any more conversation? So we were actually at roll call for you. Yeah. Yes. Nancy Hendricks, yes. Liz Thomas, yes. Helen Palmer, yes. Jofflin, yes. Marco, yes. Morin, yes.

Okay. See, I knew if you would drop it, we'd get there for sooner, Jan. Okay, great. Um, so the next line, 4412. Um, this is for water services. Um, I assume you guys are on. Are we on? Um uh we're on uh who are we on?

Panachop. Oh yes. The uh the champagne of uh of public water from London. Okay. So um uh the received for fiscal year uh 2026 was 4182. Um the uh request by the librarian which was a 2% increase is 4266 and um mine was 4,47 which was an increase uh because I used 5% more um than the 2025 actual.

Jan, I want to congratulate you. I don't know where you got your numbers from, but those are bang on from what I got from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So, I'm in the I'm in the pen and chuck area. So, uh there you go. It was more representative of what uh is happening in my, you know, pocketbook. So, okay. Um conversation or I'm ready for a No, I think this is right on. Um this is in line with with what I think is increases in Bedford, too. So, I would make a motion that we go with a recommendation um of $4,47. Second. Roll call. Let's start with Mora this time. Moraine, yes. Marco, yes. Jan Mclofflin, yes.

Helen Cer, yes. Liz Thomas, yes. Hendricks, yes. Okay.

Okay. So, that's 4047. Just trying to keep track so we have the final total. Okay. So, now we're down to printing services. printing services um is 55 uh 4550 uh printing services. Okay. So um in the default budget for the 2020 well for 2026 it was 4500 um is what we received for fiscal year um fiscal year 2025 actuals was more than that.

I have 552. Yep. Mhm. And 63. Yes. So, um Erin's request is $5,659. Um my request was 5% times the actual on 20 um 20 2025. So it was uh 5% which is $5,777. So there you go. Those are your three choices. 4500, $5,659, or $5,777.

Um I'll guess I'll open discussion. The only thing I'm going to say is that um Erin suggested and we're actually going to follow through with having a lot of the all of the printing that we do for every month for every meeting and every sometimes twice a month. We're going to be s having a savings there. Okay? Because we're now going to start projecting the the the everything and just the board will have it to read before the meet before the meeting. post, you know, maybe Republic can download it. It'll be posted so people It'll be posted. Yeah. Yeah.

Oh, yeah. It's all It's always going to be posted. Absolutely. Yeah. Okay. So, I would just say that um you know, actually, you know, we're talk we 45 is where it was, right? That's what we received in 26. Y and now we're going up to um 50 58 or 59. 56. um 59 or 577 or whatever other number you want to throw out. Nancy, I I think that this is a line item. Hopefully, Aaron is going to dramatically be reduced because of our QR code. Well, may I speak to that? Yes, please.

So, it's not just the meetings that cause the printing. It's requests by the board for more documents. So yes, this will help a lot, but it is other requests by each board member and and so on so forth. So um just keep in mind the best we can email it to you is is great, but um yes, I I I think this would be a big help. There are other things that you print besides board stuff. Yes, there are in this line. Yes.

Okay. So, we're actually looking at I think 45 I, you know, I would prefer to keep it say maybe five instead of 58, you know, type of thing. But it's up to um someone to make a motion. I'm actually going to make a motion that we um go with the the the recommended amount by the director and hopefully we're going to see a big reduction in that of $5,659. Second. Okay. Second. Beth, did you Okay. Um roll call. Moore. Yes. Mora Ryan. Yes. Beth Mara. No. Jim Fawen. Yes. Helen.

Yes. Liz Thomas. Yes. Nancy Hendricks. Motion passed. Okay. Dues and subscription services are being move have been moved that line, right? No, Gmail was the only thing that came out of that line. Okay. Gmails came out of other things are still in that line. Okay. So, it's it's it's

so G milks was okay. So, we're at 4560 the dues and subscription services. This originally combined in 2026. It combine both GMILs and um other subscriptions um services and G-milks now will have its own line so it's clear as to what is uh the actual GMIL's cost what is the actual funding cost for GMILS um so the director's recommendation for this portion um that's left is 8,395 and I did a straight $8,000 So, um, with the difference being 44262, um, which is you'll find you'll see later.

Okay. I can't wait. Okay, we got the hands everywhere. Start with Nancy. So, is this not a contractual arrangement? Do we have an Which one? Where are you looking? Gmail. Gmail says contractual. No. So, but we're at the one above it. We're on the one above it. Sorry. subscription for you to I'll ask that question. Okay. Okay. Um I I know that the director has come up with that number, you know, through

a series of data points that she has. So rather than making an arbitrary number, I prefer to keep what the director has recommended. So I'm going to make a motion to keep 8395 um for line 4560 0000. Second. Roll call. Laura. Um, Laura Ryan, no. Beth Marco, yes. Jim Mclofflin, no. Helen Keller, yes. Liz Thomas, yes. Nancy Hendricks, yes.

All right.

That's I want to ask one question. That's kind of set C based on set cost that you have, right? So that out of that line item comes our 13 museum passes, our memberships to ALA, NHLA, NHLTA, um GameStop. Um we do have a membership with GameStop in store and that gives us actually a discount on any video games we purchase. So it actually is quite um quite the savings. Um and so the Baker and Taylor fee, which is um I'd have to look it up. Um that because our vendor is changing, that fee may not be there. However, we have to go to a new vendor. So there could be a fee that we're not a privy to. So I didn't want to and I just found out we just found out about Baker and Taylor last week. So this was given to you prior to that. But um

so it's a pretty firm it's a it's pretty firm on those numbers. Yeah. And that's anticipating potentially a little bit of cost going up regarding our museum pass. Some of our museum passes have gone up already. Um we do sometimes ask the friends to fund certain passes or special passes so we can explore that a little bit more. Um, we could also ask the trustees if they would like to fund any passes out of their account. Um, so there's there's ways we can to look at that line and and maybe make some savings, but I am comfortable with the with the recommended um that the board voted on. Well, I think that it's great service we provide and I wouldn't want to see that go away. Right. Me too. So, Jen,

um, uh, the, uh, another location or another way to raise money for the museum passes and things would be to ask, um, you know, patrons if they would like to donate, you know, in honor of somebody or in memory of somebody, um, for museum pass. That's a great idea. We actually need to start doing fundraising like that. And so, you know, I mean, we can't anticipate what we'll do in the today's budget that we we, you know, might be able to do that. That's an idea that we need to pursue for the future.

And maybe next year the, you know, we'll have extra money that's donated that we can, you know, work with into the budget. Okay. Do um did did we make a motion?

That's right. I I already Yeah, I I wanted to get a little more information about that. Okay. Great. Okay. line 45601. This is the new line for library consortia. This is GMILS and there's another minor consortia that we have as a group. Um so Aaron has requested 47911. Um we received 31747 which was what was um the GM milks cost here. Um I that was only 10 months of GMILS however. So I figured out what the um other two months cost. I added that cost to um what we actually spent and um then increased it by 5%. So that's how I came up with my 41906. So I'm uh $6,05 difference than um Terren's number.

Laura, um can we get breakdowns of these numbers because I want to know if this includes just the fee for Gmail. So if it includes the software, licensing, the equipment, and the other stuff. Where is that going if it's not in this line? Every No, this is included in the and the donation and everything too. There's no donation. That was for last year for fundraising for to even get on board with Gmails. This there's no fundraising for this. This is now the donation I think she's talking about is the donation that we're asked to give them that we gave.

Oh, that's the cloud library. That's going to be the that's the cloud library that's going to be coming out of our collection line because it's actually a collection just like Hoopla and um Libby and books that we have on the shelf. So that is not included because we choose that amount. Um so that's why it's not included. This is an amount that's given to us that we have to pay. We choose the cloud library amount. So this amount that you're quoting right here is actual cost that we have. It's anticipated anticipated. Yeah. So that's Gms and the Mary Hill rock. Yes. Mary Hill. And Mary Hill ran what this year? Um might have to approximate.

I can tell you. Hold on just a second. This is last year. Oh yeah, this is last year. Hold on. Cool. It was $35. Okay. Can I add one more? No. Yes. I just wanted to add that um we have already paid the Gmail for FY 206. So Aaron took that number and added I think it was like I don't know exactly I think it was 3%. So that's where she got her

cuz we we already got the bill for this year which we usually we always get in July. The board voted on that which is 31747. Nope was last year. That was last year.

This year we've already paid it. Um, and I believe it was 40 I'm 43ish or 40 43ish. I'd have to look up the exact number, but we've already paid it for this year. So, that's where I was getting that number from. So, I'd like to make a motion.

Okay. They were looking up that number for you. Did you want that? That's fine. Yeah. Okay. And that would be what we what we paid in July for the 12 months. Hold on. I was just loading the document. Not the best service. No, you need one of those little plugin things that keeps them. And that would have been the 12 month. 46481 is what we paid this year. Okay. 46. So 464 481 46 481. So next July that's when the next amount it always comes out July. They always send the invoice the beginning of July.

Yeah. Okay. Which is Jen, did you want to continue with that? Just a minute.

Yep. We'll give you a title. Well, based on the projections of 3% over this year, um that we just paid um 47 uh 911 is right close. I have 47875. So I would like to make a motion that we go with the 47911 that the director has requested for 4560 0001. Second roll call Ryan. I

Yes. Jofflin, yes. Paulary, yes. Liz Thomas, yes. Nancy Hendricks, yes. Pest. And also, that's the $35 for the other consortion. So, $35 for the other come pretty close. Okay, that'll be that'll be the next one. I just wanted to um revisit the default uh question real quick because this one would be a large difference um in funding between default and moving this to a new line. Um so I don't know if the board wants to have a backup plan or you want to just see what happens. That's

okay. I'm just concerned. Could you one more time clarify what which what you're just on the blue part where the highlighted is that's what she's so the default I believe if I'm doing this correctly Kate you can tell me if I'm wrong the default would be what we received in FY26 and for the which would go back to the dues and subscriptions line um which we received

a total of 52 262 Um, but that factors in more than just Gmails. Um, as we said, it includes museum passes and all of our other memberships. Um, so that would like GMOs would pretty much eat that and we would potentially be looking at less museum passes, no memberships to NHLA, um, for example. So, just something to think about. So you're saying that the gin milks right now that we just voted on that's really just the G milks, but there's a couple of other things that we that also fall in.

Well, I think she's saying that because we created a new line item and since that line item exists in our new or this new budget, it did not exist in the default. So if something were to happen, it would not exist the amount that we need. How much what's the difference if the default happens? Um what would be

oh yeah the default was 52262 for man uh uh dues and subscription services um but we have other subscription services like um the the so the what we just voted on prior to that that was 839 8395. So these two combined are 56306 which is $4,000 more than what we have in the default budget. Um so and I don't think there's any way around that if the the voters vote on the default budget as a whole. It's again the default budget doesn't just include the library. The library is rolled into the town as a whole. Um it would be all the departments that would not get the extras above and beyond the default budget. Um, but yeah, that would be $4,000 short of where the library would need to be and they have to figure it out. So,

and I'm sorry, that would be a cut. Are we still talking about we've gone? So, we're talking about two lines because we're taking it out of that one line. So, it's the one above it. Yeah. That we already just approved for 83.95. Um, and then this would be 47911 if we go with what the library what the librarian has um requested. So the combination of the two of them would be 56306. Yep. And you are you saying you were $4,000 short of what the default was last year? 52262. Uh that's the default budget. So we're about four grand short of that. Yeah. and we're on the hook for it because we've got

we have to figure out where else in the budget we can pull that from. And this would be the case no matter what you put in the budget anywhere else. There's no way you could beef it up somewhere to like save. So you're saying we need to put 4,000 more into that line? No, I think this is where mad chair if I may. This is where I was saying that if we wanted to create that library consortium line with a zero amount and then just add those two together and keep it in dues and subscriptions um then that we wouldn't lose anything because it would it would stay there and then fiscal year 28 we would be able to move it now. Right. Exactly. The other one doesn't exist. So we're not changing the dollar value.

No, it would just be still in one line. We create the library consortium line with zero, put all the money together in that same old line, I guess you could say, and then when it came to doing working on fiscal year 28, that's when we could pull it and it would be safe. That's my understanding. Okay, let Jian

um my my only uh comment on that is that unlike the previous uh time where we were taking management services and those numbers are not in a subset um uh 5560 which is the dues and subscription services 0000 um is this is a 56 five 4560-001. So, this is in the same um larger category. I don't think you're going to have as much of a problem. I mean, maybe you're still going to have a problem because it's still Well, so the default is Yeah, the default is the problem. So, if we go into default, then we lose all of that money.

No, but I'm what I'm saying is it's because because this this account number um is this has the same four leading characters. I I don't I don't think that matters. If it's if it's a new line, it's a new line. I think it that gets into like finance stuff that I call Justin. Do you have any thought on that? No, I don't know if we split out subgl line items before. Um but I do agree that you stand to quote unquote lose 4K if the voters decide to go with the default.

So, we'd be better off adding that 4K in this line. I think if you I think I think what I'm understanding is correct is to move that 47 911 into the dues and subscription services. So we add those two together and that would be in there and then still create the library consortium line that we would use in fiscal 28 right that's my understand we could certainly get that verified by Justin but that would play it safe that we wouldn't lose the consortium money because that's a contractual application it's not changing it's just changing the formatting right my concern is that the whole reason for splitting it out is because of wanting that G milks more visible

and this makes it an entire another year that the GM milks stays unvisible. I I totally hear you, but I'm hearing too what some of the experts are saying from budget committee and that concerns me. I completely hear I agree with you. I want it I want it taken out so that we can have a better visual of that, but I'm concerned doing it this year now. The default we can still I I have no problem doing that next year, but I'm concerned about losing it and then we're in a position where we've got a lot of money that we're needing and we don't have when we could have easily had it.

Just one minute because I I want to say something too. Um I think that I would like to ask the budget committee is this year more risk than any other year of having the default or do you are do you think it's even you know not I'm not I don't want to know it's a vague possibility you you can't look into a crystal ball. I know we're all having tea later.

Yeah. I don't know. I think it would really depend on seeing how some of because we haven't even had our first session to discuss the budget with people yet. So, I don't know what the atmosphere is like around budgeting or anything this year. I'll know more after November 1st when the fire DPW and police have presented their budgets and how prickly people are. Then I I can get a five check, but um at this point in time it's Yeah.

Patrick, do you concur with that? Um, I don't have a crystal ball. And also, by the way, I would not presume to tell this board whether or not you should add in that 4,000. The one thing I will say, which was a topic back during the local elections, are that there is a preference for greater transparency and so breaking outline items in the way that's being discussed here. Um, I I would view that favorably just in terms of transparency. That is entirely separate from the very valid concern about maintaining funding, which I will yield to the board on. Again, I'll be right with you, Donna. I guess I like to should to sh up my bets. So, I would like to see it, you know, combined just this year so that we definitely don't lose that money. We don't want to be losing any money, you know, and if if there's a possibility that that could happen because next year it's not it's

it's now an existing line. Yeah. Okay. with this year. It's a nebulous space. Y present the budget to the budget committee. You can say this includes this and this 47,91 911 is in is the Gmail subscription that is included in the you can say that 15 times if you want in the presentation to make it clear that this is that um and you know we can maybe separate it out. You can present the budget however you want, but just make it clear that this is how much we're paying for teals. Um, you know, I think that's a good way of doing it from so it's separate but also this is in this 56,000 is included the 47,000 just

allow people to know what that is um and bring that visibility verbally rather than visually. visually. Yeah. Yeah. And it's it's, you know, I mean, it's Yeah. It's we would like to see it say exactly what it is, but by the same token, I don't want to give up for the, you know, that money, you know. So, Mara, I mean, I'm sorry, Donna. Somebody else. See, I I look at you and I see her

opposite side. Um, I just wanted to add some clarification on Justin's suggestion regarding the risk versus the transparency. Um, his suggestion is to leave the money in the current budget line, which is what you're discussing. However, after the budget passes, the board could make a motion to move money into the empty line. Oh, nice. Oh. So, then you would actually be able to show the public that is where the money is going. So within a month or so we can do that

whenever well the budget won't be p go through till whatch but then we can move that and we can re you know something and that would speak to yeah so I agree I mean I agree that all of our departments have to be transparent and that vote that it's done y okay are we comfortable to call the vote So, what what was the motion? Oh. Oh, yeah. We need to have a motion because I think we Yeah. Is there a new MO? What was there a motion before? Okay. There was a motion. I lost track. Hold on. Our treasurer is putting together fitness right now. The number I got to combine both those lines was 56306.

That's the number I got. 47 91. So then the consortium line would have zero and then the dues and subscriptions would have the 56306 with the understanding of moving that when the book happened. So, it's going to be 4,000 more 4,100 $4,50 more or less um more than the uh what we are approved for this year. Okay. So, the dues and subscriptions.

So, we have to undo what we just did. Yeah. And then if we if we were going to combine them into one. Um so not a number for the second. So do you have 56306 would be the 47911 um plus the 8395 plus an additional 4,000. Yes. No. That that gets it. That gets it because we didn't we already vote on those two lines? Yes, we're just voting to combine them to the line. We need to move up to the above line and change that

figure. That's the 56 306. So, we just are voting to combine the two. Yes. Okay. So, I make a motion that we combine those two lines, dues and subscriptions and consortiums for this year to leave ourselves protected. Yes. So, we're going to zero out the consortium line. No, I think you need to keep Yeah, you just put We're not going to add consortium in that in that thing. That's what I'm just saying on the motion. Okay. So, it's 56306. So, is that dues and subscription services? Second. No. Is that your motion? Yes. Okay. I'll second it. Okay.

Okay. Uh, any more conversation? No. Was ready. Nancy Nancy Hendricks. Yes. Liz Thomas. Yes. Helen Palary. Yes. Jofflin. Yes. Be Pat. Yes. Morin. Yes. Okay. Now then, so yes. How do we do you need a separate motion to make 456-001 a zero balance? Well, I don't think you do because we didn't vote to put any money in. But the line is new. So, I'm wondering if we should vote because the line itself is new. Well, if if you if it's better to just address it than let's let's address that. We'll play it safe. Okay. Would you like to make a motion?

Madam Chair, I make a motion that we make line item 4560-001 a zero balance. Second. Roll call. Laura. Um, yes. Mora Ryan Macklin. Yes. Jan Mclofflin. Yes. Colin Palary. Yes. Liz Thomas. Yes. Nancy Hendricks. Yes. Motion passes. We only have one more page. No, we Well, there's one more at the bottom of that. The seminars and workshops. I Oh, no. I'm sorry. I'm looking at my one hand. My apologies. It was consortiums with the last one. So, I was looking at so when to the second page,

right? So, um we're looking at seminars and workshops. Um there was uh this year in uh 2026 we had $1,000 was what was um requested and um the director has asked for 2,000. I agreed with the 2000 um and uh last year um they spent about $1,800 1880

um and uh uh there was I don't know 50 less than $100 was spent on a board members conference. So, that wasn't the extra $800, but anyway, I um but I think I think it's reasonable. It's important to recognize that when you did the last year's budget, you didn't realize that the that the any trustees going to a conference would be in that line too. Correct. Correct. So, now we're just I'm not saying that's why we went over. I'm just saying I think if we're going to if trustees are going to be going forward, we're going to coming out of this line, we have to consider that. That's all I'm saying. Yeah, that's what I was saying. Yes. Yeah.

So, 2,000 is reasonable. Yeah. Do we have a motion? Um, make a motion for 45 um 70 the line item uh of $2,000. Second. Nancy. Nancy Hendris. Yes. Liz Thomas. Yes. Helen Pal. Yes. Janlin. Yes. Steph. Yes. Morin. Yes.

Okay. Okay, moving right along. Um, travel and mileage. Um, uh, the director has requested um, $1,500 for this item. In 2026, we have uh been approved for $1,000 um, this past. So, I recommended um uh 5% more than the 2025 actual. So, I I got 1,50 uh versus 1,500. So,

yes, more uh what was the actual Genjian? [Music] It was it was it was not very much. It was less than $15985. I guess my one consideration would be um that you know we have new people going on the board but that those charges wouldn't go in there anywhere

next year but you know you also have new employees and stuff and so maybe you know we need to budget a little more you know generously in that than we have been doing. I I would agree with you because you probably recall in our discussion about Erin's job description for the upcoming year. One of the things that we want for her to do is more outreach into the community and establish relationships, partnerships, etc. Well, she has to travel to do that. You need guests to do that. You need gas to do that. And gas is never going to get cheaper. No. No. So, I'm perfectly Oh,

um I was sorry. Were you done? I was just going to say I was okay with um the director's recommendation of $1,500. So, I just want to speak to the the amount that we spent was $159 and that was due to we due to staffing challenges, we weren't able to go to those conferences. In fact, this year still we're not able to go to those conferences. So, um I I don't think that's an accurate spent of what we what I would love for my staff to be able to do. Um, so I would ask the board to please consider the the $1,500 um for the mileage from for those reimbursements. Yeah, I think yes, Jan.

So, um I see that there's no budget line. So, is this a change from a budget line? No, it's always existed. What What do you Where are you looking the actuals in uh 2022, 2023, 2024? They're all just a dashed line. for travel and mileage services.

Oh, so Don Don may ask to that. Um, so previously the staff requested reimbursement through the seminars and workshops for mileage. However, when we joined Gmails, we recognized that we would be attending more Gmails and meetings and having to travel. So, we wanted a more accurate um split of travel versus seminars and workshops. So, that's why Those were not funded in those years because we weren't there anymore. This can sort of makes a difference. So, but you also increased the seminars and workshops as well because they had more train.

Right. But what I'm saying is they've asked Well, it's gone up and down throughout the year. throughout the years like in 2023 it was 27 381 and then that's what we actually spent and then 2024 it was 2,000 actual was 511 so we're asking for 2,000 well we're asking for 1500 but in 2025 it was 2,000 but 1,500 plus 2,000 is 3500 no I'm I'm asking for 1500 she's looking at the other lines

when seminars seminars and the mileage together that's $3,500 where um if you look at past history that's not even close. So I understand that there's more workshops and all that stuff, but there also some things come with the G-milks. Some of the training comes with G-mils as well. This is not just training. This is just we go to the state library for training. We go

I I understand I'm just saying that that there also is some training. My understanding is there was some training that comes with GMOs. So my concern is this is again this is it's more than um previous years that's all. Well, I think that the first the first line that we discussed, we added it because for to cover the trustees to go to workshops because Erin hadn't, you know, that wasn't part of the deal before. There was only Okay. But there was only one one that did that. So, it was only it was less than $100.

Yeah. But what if other other members wanted to go? you're still $3,500 versus um 2,000. Kate, so I just did some very quick math. You mentioned that there were some um workshops and trainings and stuff up in conquered from the Leech Library to the library up and conquered. Just there just to get there is 50 miles. So it's 50 miles there in DAS. So that's 100 miles. $1,50 will give you 1500 miles. So that's 15 trips to conquer and DAC only. That's it. That's all you get with the 1,50 for the mileage reimbursement because right now that's.7 cents a mile.

Bill, I'd like to just make a motion to accept the director's um recommendation for $1,500 for line 457500. Second, Nancy. Nancy. Oh, wait. I'm sorry. Are we done with discussion? Anything to say? No. Nancy Nancy Hendricks, yes. Liz Thomas, yes. Helen Cer, yes. J Mofflin, no. Marco, yes. That is a 930% increase. I'm going to say no. Okay. Motion pass.

We're on general general expenses, supplies. Okay. She's she's going to keep the figures through.

So um uh this past year it was in 2026 um for general expenses that's categor the line item is 4610. Um the amount budgeted was $9,100. Um the uh librarian's uh budget was $8,100. Um, and I had recommended uh $5,528, which was 5% more than the actual 2025. That's where I came up with my number

conversation. Yes, it's not completely relative, but it is a little bit. Could we start instead of saying the librarian, can we say the directors because that just feels more respectful of our title. Okay. Okay. So, okay. 8100 versus 5528 or some other number.

Done. I just want to note that um what's spent most out of general expenses line are supplies and outsourcing services for preparing our books, processing them. Um our vendor is going out of business as I shared. Um so we don't know what the cost is going to look like with a new vendor. Um so there's some like question marks there. So, I'm I'm I'm not saying that we have to go with as high as 8,100, but I do feel like you should leave some room for whatever the cost is going to look like with a new vendor. Um, so that's for you to think about.

And I think I can safely say it's going to be costing more because you have I mean, we're down to one major service now, right, in the US from books. So when you have you're the kingpin, you can call your numbers. You know what I mean? That that's my only comment. So what are we talking about? Back. I just have to take care of something else. Okay. So we're talking about what? A thousand? No. How many? How much more difference? I mean, it's a big difference between the two.

So 2026 um uh actual No, 2026 approved was 9,100. Yeah. Um the director is asking for um 8,000 [Music] for less um 100. Yeah. And um we actually spent in 20 25 turn it around. Um we actually spent in 2025. [Music] I don't why I have that number on you. I know you already said it. 5,2543. Uh, what's that? 5,000

500 5,025 2525. Y Okay, so that's what we spent this past year. Y um so okay, I I guess I'll make a comment. I think that, you know, okay, we know it's it would be no less than that that 5,000, you know, but realistically I would feel comfortable with we're talking five or eight or nine, maybe go 57, you know, just give you an idea. If anyone wants to make a motion, think about it.

Well, I I I you're right. I think when you have a monopoly on something, you get to set your price and um you know, just say she's not sure. Maybe you can comment on it, darling, if you allow, but I I don't know. I I don't think that it's going to be $5,000. I don't even think it's going to be $5,500. I think it's going to be more than that. I agree with you. But so how much more? I don't know. That's what I said. They're looking for 59. I said 57. You know what? Are we talking about $200? You know. No, no, no, no. You're talking about $2,000, right? Yeah.

No, I'm saying between what they suggested, the 59 and I suggested 57. Well, yeah. They suggested 81. Yeah. I'm sorry. They suggested 81. Oh, 81. Oh, okay. Yeah. May May I ask a question? Yes. I'm sorry. Erin, do you think if we adjust this line item uh 4610 instead of 8100, do you think that if we adjust it to 7,500 will be in the in the ballpark? We were just talking about saying yes. We're just saying that I would these folks now are a monopoly.

Yeah, I would feel better about that. I I do still have some concerns because we don't know what our new member of course will will um charge us, but it would be it would put us in a more comfortable position than the five. Okay. Then Madam Chair. Oh, well, because we had one hand up. Beth Yeah. No, I was just going to um suggest Yeah, because I I like a conservative number, but that sense risky. I I think if our if our vendor wasn't shutting down immediately, we would I would feel more comfortable with going with a lower number and because we'd have actuals, but um with the new vendor, it's so hard to predict what the those charges will look like. And if there if it's and it ends up being a one vendor in the world, which right now that's what it is right now.

Maybe the business is to be a book vendor. Yes. So would would you be comfortable with us adjusting this to 7500? That would be comfortable. Yes. Madam Chair, I would make um a motion that we adjust line item 4610-0000 from 8100 to 7500. Second. Roll call. No. Beth Marco, yes. Uh Jam Mclofflin, no. Helen Calary, yes. Liz Thomas, yes. Nancy Hendris, yes. I think right now in this environment the that the risk is real. Okay. You know and if if we have the money if we don't spend it all you know.

Okay. Okay. So the next line is uh 4620. Um this is office supplies. Um this is uh 11099 is what was um budgeted for 2026. Um it's what was requested by um the the director for 2027 and I um had requested 10,728 based on the um 2025 actuals which is upside down now.

10 217 10 217 plus 5%. So you took the actuals plus 5%. Right. Okay. Conversation.

You know when I go to replace for example toner I am a gasast at how much toner cost. It's ridiculous. It is ridiculous. So it's another one of those list price is not going to go down. So especially with the load that we have placed on the director and her staff for the the documents that we require. I say we leave this as is and we coming under we give it back. Second. No no no you no I want to give anyone has wants to counter that. Okay before we go to there wasn't a vote. No that I'll make a motion. Okay.

Madam Chair, I make a motion that we accept the director's recommendation for office supplies 4620-0000 of $11,99. It's 4620, right? 4620-00. Second. Okay. Laura. Um, yes. Yes. Beth Mara. Yes. Jan Mclofflin. Yes. Helen Peri. Yes. Celely Thomas. Yes. Motion passes.

Okay. So, um now we're into postage which is 4625. Um 4625. Um we requested $1,000 in 2026. Um it's requesting $2,000 and um the director is requesting $2,000 last year. Oh, and she but with a note that she'd like to move $1,000 from general expenses to this postage line. So, it's basically a wash then. No, no, cuz general expenses um we changed to 7500. So, I don't know if that,000 I think we should not worry about the moving to that line,

right? Because we changed the amount. We've just been voting the actual line. I think that's stay that's clearer. But um the but the the the expenses for this for last year expenses in 25 the actuals in 2025 was 3,000 and some because of the um postcard reregister yourself

re-register your cards for the other the rest of the family. So, um, uh, so that's why I came up with 10% more than the actual for 2025, figuring that 2025 was a more um, uh, representative. And then you've got an increase in postage as well. So that's where I come up with 1,100. Beth, um, correct me if I'm wrong, Erin, but doesn't that amount that you calculated um, include whatever it takes to ship a book, you know, inter library, I believe. So

yeah. So the we still get inter library loan through the state. Yeah. Um, and so and actually we thought it went down probably a lot. It didn't go down as less as we thought it would to be honest. Um, so we still do have to ship those back books back to other libraries. So we don't actually pay a postage fee for the state van. We are paying postage for outofstate interl loans. That's correct. Which we also get out of state books sometimes for patrons and that is paid through the postage loan. Okay. So messing with that too much could affect.

Yeah. Yeah. And so mine my 2,000 came from including that and then as well as the increase I think Jan spoke to of postage costs are constantly going up I think feels like twice a year now. Um so that was to account for that. Um yes we're not doing the postcard compa campaign so we don't need the 3,000 but we still need to account for those additional increases that could potentially come from the US postal system as well as send mailing those out of state books back. So my thought is 10% over 2025 is enough. But there you go. That's that's the difference. So good.

Can I just make a motion to accept um to move forward with the director's recommendation for $2,000 under the postage supplies line um 4625-0000. Second roll call. Nancy Hendricks. Yes. L Thomas. Yes. Helen Pary, yes. Jam Mclofflin, no. Beth Marco, yes. Morray, no. Vote passes. Okay. Maintenance repair. Now we're going to uh 4630. Mhm.

0 0. Um maintenance and repairs supply and supplies. Yes. So carpet and carpet and upholstery cleaning came out of this line and is now moved into custodial services for 2026. Um the uh the budgeted amount or the approved amount was 25,000. Um the director has asked for 25,000 and I went ahead with 25,000. Okay. conversation.

Madam Chair, I make a recommendation that we um approve the recommendation for line item 4630-0000 for $25,000. Second Laura Ryan, yes. Pat, yes. Gemma, yes. Helen Pal, yes. Liz Thomas, yes. Nancy, yes. Okay. So, 46 books and periodicals

4670. Now, this is books and periodicals. This is another one where we have split um numbers. Again, I my understanding from Justin was that that um since the first four numbers are the same that we wouldn't have as great a concern of um if it was a default budget. Um, in 2026 we um budgeted um $100,000. In 2025 we spent $150,000. $156,000 I think it was. Um so um Aaron was recommending $90,000 of it being split because the other 51 is down below. Um, so

no, no, I was recommending $90,000 for that line specifically and then 51 for the electronics. Oh yeah, that's what she said. I thought you said splitting. She said that the 51 the 90,000 plus the 51. Okay.

Equaling the 100 that was approved for this year. Um, and I put uh 66,000 in this line and 35480 in the next line, which still gives up um n uh 101 480. So, it still gives them more than the 100,000 from this year, but um not um that amount. We have we do have G-milks and um I understand that uh um you know uh we had talked about savings originally with uh from books and periodicals. This is a line item that is spent a over a lot. Um uh and I know there's going to be some pushes and pulls on this because of the Baker and Taylor situation. Um uh as we're currently ordering books from Barnes & Noble. Um

we're not ordering any books from Barnes & Noble. Not Barnes & Noble. Okay. Um Amazon. Well, we ordered books from Amazon before, but anyway. Yeah, we've always Well, we've always ordered books from Amazon. Yeah. So, um uh the 140 131,000 combining the two is a big increase over 100,000. And um that was as much as I can say about that. $41,000 more. Are you talking about the 90 and the 51? Yeah. Isn't that 141? It is. So So I'm I'm confused of what So what's your request for the books and periodicals line? Sorry, Jan. I'm just a little

Books and periodicals. I requested 66,000. Okay, that's where I And then um for the electron the ebooks and databases 35,480. So um because based on what was broken out from 2025. So it's just an increase of $1,480 total with those two lines. Is that correct? Yes. So it's $40,000 less than what you asked folks about that. I'd like to hear from my want to No, you had your hand up. By the way, I'll speak after.

I just wanted to note that the so the books has always been a line that has always been discussed especially with the budget committee level as needing to be rightsized. Um there were many many years where it was like stagnant same amount. Um however we know that the cost of books was increasing. So we were constantly able to only get less than that. Um, I also want to note that Hoopla is a huge factor in this. Um, Hoopla is actually I want to do the math real quick with what I projected for next.

Hoopla is one of our databases that is a free um app that you can download very similar to Libby and cloud library. However, you can um uh search for a book or if you are looking for a particular book title and it's instantaneous. So, um we get that right away. However, with Hoopla, with the challenges a lot of libraries face is that they've had to drop it because it's an unpredictable amount. It's based on usage. So, it's not like we pay $1,000 to Hoopla and everybody gets access to all those things. It's, you know, if 10 people in this audience use it and then next week we add another five because we add new patrons and they ups the price and it's an unpredictable amount. So, is it like a monthly? Uh, we get a monthly invoice. Yes. Okay. So, it changes monthly.

Every month. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Um, so I wanted to add that just with the three colle the digital collections, Hoopla, New Hampshire downloadable books which is also known as Overdrive or Libby and Cloud Library which is offered through Gmails. Um, that's without counting any of our other databases like Consumer Reports and um, US Dies. US Dies. I went projecting just the cost of digital databases um to be over 39,000. So going with um the lower amount of 35,000 would mean would absolutely mean cutting hoop

and potentially other if there's increases in other databases. So it would be a huge huge loss in service. I also just want to add that the Koopla contract would would be brought to you at the November meeting. Um so got to decide now. You have to decide. Um we in order we get it. The fire is under our feet. In order to cancel that contract um we have to give 60 days written notice. So the latest we could give notice is December 10th. Okay. Nancy.

Sure. So thank you. Um, one of the things that troubles me about this is that that and we haven't had an opportunity to talk about this this year because we've been, you know, discussing so many other things, but um, as you know, and I know you share my vision of being bringing, you know, services to seniors or services to people that can't access the library um, or physically come and visit our library. So I am concerned that if we minimize some of these services then people who cannot actually physically come to our library will have less opportunities to interact with our library. So um I'm I would be very concerned about minimizing any of these services. So you're saying we're cutting services to shutins and stuff that that would be my concern.

Yeah, we could be. Um, so um, uh, besides the amount of difference, doesn't Hoopla have a four or three items per month? Isn't that one of the ways that you can

So, you can lessen the checkouts per month, but um, and you can even bring, say, like, let's say, um, only allow things that cost $3 and under be available to our patrons. But we we've tried that in the past and some of our patrons have actually complained that they haven't been able to continue a series of books that they were started when they originally had it because those that number fell under a certain amount or they weren't a lot of checkout. So I think we can we can do that but I think there's still the risk of the unpredictability of it. And to speak to NY's point, there are people and quite a few of them that we that do have library cards that don't use our physical building, but do use these services for whatever reason, whether they can't leave the house or they um have long commutes, they travel a lot. So, a lot of times these these checkouts that we're seeing with the with the U downloadables are really related to patrons that don't come in and check out the physical books, which is certainly okay and we encourage because we want them to still use our services and they have every right to do that as someone who lives in London. But um I do I I I I do agree with some of the statements that have been said that for years we've been um we I particularly have been accused and criticized about going over this line item and having it not be correct. I am presenting you with a as close to I think of a correct budget as I can think of right now um based on usage based on hopefully of the future that I'm seeing. But of course that can change. So in in my defense here I am presenting that actual that has been asked of me and asked of the board and and I've been accused of not presenting and I want to be understood that I am presenting this to the board as the as what I think is

the actual if the board would like to go forward and certainly cut that. I want that to be known that that was a board vote decision and I'm going to do my best to accommodate what I've been restricted to have whatever that number would be. So I do know that there's been comments about you know that the colle that the book has always been you know has been overspent but maybe it's not overspent maybe it was underbudgeted. It's it's definitely under combination, you know. So that could be it too.

You know, we need to have transparency. You know, that's what we're we're asking for transparency. So, you know, if we if we cut the services like books, I mean that is the s our business. Books are our business and still our highest checkout. Oh, sure. Just the physical book is still the highest. And the other thing is that we know books are going to go up, you know, um quite a bit probably when when we don't have any competition on the in the market and there's only one vendor. I mean, someone's going to show up, but it's not going to be overnight. So, there is going to be risk of costs for the next, you know, many several months probably. Um Jim,

last year when we were discussing this, we were uh there was discussion that um the books that had cost $25 were now costing $50. Now granted, I'm talking about the Baker and Taylor prices, which was not what we were necessarily paying. But um there were very few books that were paid through by Baker and Taylor that were anywhere close to $50. All the large print books, what? All the large print books are around.

Well, I'm just saying of of the invoices when she looked at the I looked through that that came through from Baker and Taylor, most of them were in the $15 to $25 range. So, they weren't close to the $50 range on a regular basis. Beth, you had something.

Um, I just wanted to reiterate what you had said, Liz. We are in the business of library books. Um, we don't ask the sports department to cut the field. Um, we shouldn't be cutting the books. Um, and again to reiterate that our physical tangible books are in crisis right now because of the supplier situation. And as a patron, almost every single thing I read comes off of a database and almost literally everything that my kiddo reads comes from a hard copy book from the book. So um we need to be thinking about all the patrons that have to access the library in variety of ways and we should not be cutting what we supply and we supply books. Um so my opinion is for what it's worth books are our business. Okay we have programs we spend and they're wonderful and people love them. Okay. But I don't want to be cutting books, you know, I think that's our main business is is the books, you know, in our services. So, you know, I'm I'm not suggesting cutting uh programs either. What I'm saying is when we write right sizing the budget when we're looking at everything every line number I think books should be one of the premium line numbers right at the top you know because that's what people come to a library for.

Yes. And if you take uh Erin's 90,000 for physical books and 51,000 for the digital that's 141 which is still lower than the 155 that was spent last fiscal year. So I think Erin is trying to make a concerted effort to realize that we are part of Gmails. We should be spending less on books and it is reflected in the budget

and I do think that you know when Aaron when you know when we were presented Gmails one of the the important things to us was it was going to cut our our books budget our collections. Okay. And so there is some savings now from there you know and we've only been in it less than a year. So I would hope going forward you know it might even you make a diff even a greater difference you know because I but it whether it does or not I think that books are our business that's that's my slogan books are our business okay um

I'll be right I'm sorry I just wanted to say something before the um so I would like to point out that the books and periodicals does include fiction non-fiction large print team children's audio books library of things, music, CDs, video games, reference, DVDs, and periodicals. So, it's not just books. And um it's a lot more. And yes, we do have a savings with Gmails, but we have to also remember that our patrons have an expectation to try we try to get them the the newest, latest, and greatest, if you will. Um, and you can't do that in the first sometimes, I think it's three months now of of we our patrons when we get a new book, let's say the new James Patterson, um, that stays in our library for about three months. Um, and sometimes we have to order a second copy because the weight list is so big. So, we have to keep in mind that this this number, yes, we are part of Gmails, but we still have a responsibility to our own patrons and their requests and their services and their needs as well. And then the having the G-milks is that added bonus of materials of not necessarily if someone were to ask for a book and we don't own it and another library does that's great. We can get it from them but we still have to get the new items the the popular items and that's all encompassing in these in these genres. So um I think that it is important to yes I think GMLs I will always I will say on my deathbed that Gmails was is super important but we do have a responsibility to our patrons and that's what this reflects

and I love that statement because that's really important. We're we're here for London Dairy, correct? You know, we're here. It's London Dairy paying us to be here to provide a service. And you know, I think number one is London Dairy. Gmails is great because it's it gives more opportunities to have more especially I love that thing with the first six months or something of a new book. It stays on the shelf for the London Dairy people. So, I love that idea too. Yes, I was going to make a motion. Sorry.

So, I was just going to my comment was I'm one of the users that uses a lot of books from Libby, which is the state library electronic downloads. And very often for some of the books that are the newer version of the book, there may be 55 copies in the state of that book, but we I still may have to wait five weeks to read to listen to it. Um but um so I'm not sure necessarily having one more copy here would make that much of a difference because I still get it from Libya anyway. So um anyway that so that's just what I'm saying is that often times there's a lot of these books that are bought and and then sometimes you get three years down the road and now it's not the number one book and now we have 56 copies. So,

okay. So, just to clarify, okay, 100,000 was what we did what we did last year. Was that was that we was approved. Yeah. Was approved. Yeah. Was approved and 90,000 is what you're looking 90,000 is my request for this year for that line was 66,000. I just wanted to make sure everyone was on the same boat. Did you want want to make a borrow? Do you have a another thing to say before we Yeah, just to clarify, we're splitting the electronic databases and the book lines. So, it's you have to compare the similar components, right? It was still more last year. Yeah, we did 156.

And again, to keep in mind of that default situation that we had with Gmails, since we're the electronic books and databases is a new line item, if we take that out, there's a risk of losing that amount. So, it might be another conversation that the board might want to have is combining those line items but keeping electronic at zero just like we did with the Gmails. Um, just to keep that in mind. That's another a risky situation that we've um and I again I agree that we should separate those. It's it's it's actually makes it easier on me and my staff as far as budgeting. Um, but the first year is

the first year is the scary year and then so I do I would ask the board to do similar what they did with the other line items is combine the both and then put a zero in the electronic um line. I got one question that's jumping ahead. Okay. Okay. Based on what the what you've given us the figures and based on both and I think we pretty much voted along that line. Bottom line, what are we looking at and what what you know for so so my request are you talking to combine both of them? No, I'm looking at at the end of the day tonight the bottom line based on your figures is how much could could we Well, I thought we were just doing the line items.

No, I know. I'm just getting an idea if like oh you know we're 100,000 ahead. Well, I don't I have to do the math. We're not done yet. We're not done yet that way. So, it makes it difficult to do that at this juncture. Yeah. I mean, we'll have to figure that math out because we've changed some line amounts. So, we'd have to figure that out once. And then if we're over too much, we might have to revisit. Well, I think Yeah, we can we'll do what we want. The board can vote on everything and then at the end we can take a look at what that increase looks like. That's what I want to know. Okay, let's continue. There's a motion. Can I make a motion for um $90,000 to be added into the budget for line 4670 0 0

second? Oh, wait. Did you have a conversation? Yeah. Um I just want to note that that does not you're going to run into the situation with default if you keep it at 90. Right. I think you had to add Oh, before you Okay. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Cuz then we had to undo what we had said before. You have to add the 51 to the 90. I'd like to send your motion. My motion. Did you want to make a new one? Yeah. 1414. So I'd like to make a motion for one. Sorry. 141 141 141,000 even.

Okay. 141 even,000. Um, and the book line is going to be the number 4670.

And then we'll put zero in the second line. So it does just like we did for the other like we did the second. If I understand your motion correctly, if your motion is to put $141,000 in line item 4670-0000, then I second your motion. It is my motion. Okay. That's what it was. Okay. Okay. I know. Sometimes it's a lot hard to keep up. Yeah. Okay. Mora. Yes. Was that a vote or was that a No, that was me. That was recognizing that I was calling you. Yes. Who was the second? Sorry.

It was originally me and then it became cuz Jance over spoke her. I think this is something we have to revisit. Um again, but um I will vote yes. Michael, yes. Jim Blanlin, no. Helen Pal, yes. Thomas, yes. Nancy Hendris, yes. Vote carries. So, would you like a motion to put zero in? That's what we did that last. Yes. Yeah. Madam Chair, I would make a motion that we put 0 in line item 4670-00001.

Second. Everyone second that one. Mara, that one's an easy one. No. Yes. Okay. Yes. Beth Ma. Yes. Jim Mofflin. Yes. Helen Pal. Yes. Liz Thomas. Yes. Nancy Hendricks. Okay. Vote carries. Thank you. Okay. So, we're getting down to the nitty-gritty now. Yes.

So, um we This is machine equipment and property 4740. Um it was zero for 2026, $1,000 um uh by the director and I said the same thing um for the director, $1,000. Madam Chair, I would make a motion that we accept the director's recommendation for line item 4740-0000 for $1,000. Second. Okay. Mo, yes. Yes. Beth, yes. Jan Mclofflin, yes. Helen Hillary,

yes. Liz Thomas, yes. Her vote passes.

Okay. Furniture and property. Um this is uh 2750. Um this is furniture and fixture property. I guess that's also bookshelves and things. Um and um the uh amount that was approved for this year was 2500. Um and um the uh director has asked for 2500 this year and I think last year we took the that out or did something with it. Anyway, um I have 2,000 um at least to start. 2,000.

And what? So, how much was spent last year? 2500. I think we pulled it out of the No, it wasn't. We pulled it out. Zero. It was zero. It was zeroed out. We didn't spend it any money in there. Yep. That's right. So, I remember that this garnered a lot of discussion. Yes, it did. I remember everyone said, "Who very passionate and it was also then there was a a um large article by the public for $40,000 and then that was that didn't go anywhere either. So it meant there was no money for the furniture. So basically we haven't spent money on furniture for two years now or more at least or more. So, Madam Chair,

yes. I would make a motion that we accept the director's recommendation of $2,500 for line item 4750-0000. Second. Nancy. Nancy Hendricks. Yes. Liz Thomas. Yes. Helen Pal. Yes. Jen Mclofflin. No. Yes. Moran. No. Okay. Both pass. We're on the roll.

So, I just want to again point out I know I'm sorry, Jim to kind of um the programming again is another um challenge with the default. So, um just to keep that in mind as we go forward.

The next one, two, three, four um line items are all programming line items. These would all be added into the management services if um there was a default budget. Um but these are new numbers now. Um so it would be added into line item management services 4330 which we approved for $4,314. Okay. So, um um all of these um uh would be added in and this is about

20,870. So, you would add that to the four. Yeah. So, um uh for those so for the programming lines I got 20,870. Y and then you would add that to the already approved 4,770. And then you just zero all of those slants for the Yeah. Just like we did for the default budget. Yeah. Laura, you had a question. Um kind of a technical question. Sorry. Is anybody taking meeting minutes? Um I've got the queue. Okay. Just double check. Thank god I'm keeping track. I'm keeping track of every vote, too, Laura. I'm keeping track of every vote.

Great. Good. Okay. So, um uh uh we can go I I'd still like to us continue to go line by line, but then we could add it back into the management services if we could just because it's it I think the discussion is clearer this way. Um so, um the request for adult programming um is 7,542. I don't know why I have 7,543, but there's a $1 difference for some reason. So, you're agreeing with that figure. I agree with the director's That's adult programming. That's 4821. Um, so do you want to talk about adult programming?

I just wanted to say where I got these numbers from were what we've spent um we've kind of separated as best we can. I think um pretty good actually um of what we've spent on programming in the past. So that's what um that's so we would be able to add e to offer equal service this year. Yeah. with with um I did incre I did increase each of the costs that I came up we had numbers for by 3% to account for any increases in right whatever that be performers charges or whatever have be right

I mean per when we when we hire a performer also keep in mind sometimes that performer does charge us for mileage and it does come out of whatever so let's say it's an adult um person they do charge it would come out of that program line so knowing that mileage is going up potentially we try to account for that So that's kind of where all that thought processing was going.

Um I would like to propose that we instead of look at at each line separately, we just look at it as a whole and you know talk about the programs and then because it's being moved up into one piece and everything else it's all being zeroed out. But if you want to discuss each level of programming, we can do that too. It's up to the board. Okay. I think almost all identical. So, I think we should just And you're saying that you you look that's pretty much a real a realistic view of what you spent. Uh as realistic like basing on what we've spent in the past plus 3%. Yes.

To account for potential inflations, whatever. Have that be. Oh, we have unpredictable sometimes. We always have inflation. Yeah. I don't think there's anything nothing stays the same. Um, the only difference between mine and the director was um I added a dollar to um uh the adult programs. I took a dollar away from the teen program. And you took $8 away and I took $8 away from the other programs. We won like some kind of a sugar high that night. I I'm not really sure. I'm h have a feeling I

She has reason. I had a technology person who was doing the final tweaking of the numbers and it may be that in the tweaking um the numbers came out different. I have no idea but basically we're about $10 off. Yeah, give or take. Okay, I'll take whatever's higher. Can I go make a motion to go with whatever's higher? Whichever line is higher. Are she wants that 10 bucks?

Yeah. So, yours is higher by eight. So, Madam Chair, if if the director is correct, if these together, um, line item, adult program, teen teen programming, youth programming, and other programming, I haven't run the numbers, but I trust you, Erin, if that comes to $20,000 870. Then I would make a motion that we accept that for programming for the following year. Second. Nancy. Nancy Hendricks. Yes. Liz Thomas, yes. Helen Palmer, yes. J Mlofflin. Yes. Yes. Moray. Yes. Okay. Now, do we need to make a motion to move this somewhere? Yes. Okay. Yes.

We need to move. We need to move the $20,870 um to um management services. So, we're going to add this to the $4314. What's the line item? Uh 4330. I would second that motion. Mora would take a photo. Laura Ryan, yes. Marco, yes. Jam Mclofflin, yes. Helen Pal, yes. Liz Thomas, yes. Nancy Hendricks, yes. That makes that line 21347. Yes. If anybody wants to double check with me on that one.

Okay, everyone concur with that. So now we need to a motion to and then we'd like to zero out I make a motion that we zero out the four program lines. Um four four four adult program youth and other second

yes sorry uh yes um uh Janlin yes Helen Palary yes Liz Thomas yes Nancy Hendris yes motion pass unanimously okay the last thing we're at then okay the last thing um is uh account number 4320 um which um the we had nothing from last year because we in our greatest ideas took it out last year. I just wanted for the record I would like to make a point that I wanted to put it in and everybody else decided to take it out. So we took it out for the spot one for the 20 for the 2026 approved. We'll give you that kudo.

She was using the Ouija board over there. So, um, uh, and, uh, the, uh, director has, um, requested, um, $1,200 and I recommended $5,000. I would agree with you. I recommended more than the director as well. I looked it up. The average I saw bill somebody some website like some lawyers in New Hampshire had all their hourly billing rate listed and $350 was the average. 1,200 would give you 3.42 for two hours for the entire year.

So, I bumped it up to 3500 to give you a solid at least 10 hours of billable time. Um, but yeah, I I did not think that the 1,200 was adequate. And and again, we're just we're just kind of um No, the other departments aren't putting money aside for legal services. We're just trying to begin to offset the costs that the town might be incurring in our on our behalf. Um, so I think that's um where we've got those Well, I will mention that in the first month we surpassed this. So both both numbers, the 5,000 as well as the

No, no, we've surpassed the 1,200. And I'll tell you, we were close closer to the 5,000 and that was in the first month. And hopefully it will continue. Huh? Come on. Maybe two. Oh, maybe two. Okay, I'll give you two. Okay, there's about it. That's a lot. So, I'm not even sure that, you know, 5,000 is enough. But, you know what? I think it would be prudent to maybe leave it at 5,000 and I don't know. Begin to do it. Um, Patrick, do you have a thought on this? He's got a lot. Did I interrupt you? No, not at all. But that's that feels like walking into a field.

Yeah, I know. I know. Pe You know what? You know, I I I for one would like us to not joke about how much money we've spent on those because I think it's appalling. No, it is. And and we need to control it. We need to, you know, we need to on our actions to, you know, not to control the Again, I haven't seen a single letter or email from our attorney. And you're the one that And I did tell you I'll go home. I know, but I'm just saying you're the one that makes every single request and none of us here. Sorry, a lot of the requests were not from not from me on the board. Okay.

Yeah. So, um, Liz, if I may just finish my thought, I I appreciate you calling on me, but I don't know what the board or any library employees have done with lawyers this this fiscal year or last. So, I I would be nothing but guess. So, I apologize. I can only tell you how much like the bill the what I saw was $350 an hour for a billable rate. That's 3500 gives you 10 hours. I can give you the data for it, but my opinion as to how much you should spend, that's I think more of a board decision. I'm happy about that.

I think it needs to be controlled and I think I think that we shouldn't raise it too much on this year and on this year's budget. So, I would, you know, I think the 1,200's not realistic, but, you know, I I I guess I would feel uncomfortable going any more than the 5,000. Nancy,

quite frankly, in um in this current climate, and we've had we have a lot that's, you know, been in front of our attorney, changes in our personnel policy, changes in our our bylaws, you know, a variety of other things that we've needed some legal guidance on. I quite frankly think that we should boost this up to 7500. But that's just my personal opinion. Remember this, we can choose what we think is comfortable. That's exactly and the budget committee can come back to us and talk to us. That's right. But you know, I you know, if you do the math, I mean, you're right, Caitlyn. I don't think 7500 is outrageous at all. I don't either. Divided by $350 an hour. There you go. 21 hours.

If I may ask one more question. when we were in October. Um you you do have an idea of your run rate so far this year, this fiscal year. Um you would know better than anyone else, you the members of this board, um whether the run rate so far is expected to continue throughout the year or whether issues will be put to resolved. Yeah.

And that's our hope. But by the same token, you know, I think that, you know, that we still have to fund and and we have to try to fund at a an appropriate amount that, you know, that we're not tripling and and quadrupling, you know, things. So, we need to be conscious of what we're spending, but we also need to be conscious that we're sticking in the budget. And if we budget too low,

well, precisely right. And again, I think that it's it's good in order to protect our library to be prepared. I mean, let's just say for the sake of discussion that we had a very sizable, you know, legal issue that comes up later in the year that costs us more than $5,000. Then what do we do? Someone could fall and be injured and $5,000. It's gone like that. Exactly. Although we do have insurance. So, we do have insurance. Oh, okay. But, you know, transfer.

Yes. I just want to say my number was just based on what has previously been in that line. I just was using that number. I have no Okay. I have no real knowledge of what um the costs would be and essentially. So that that's where I was coming from with the 1200 was that's what was previously in that line prior years. Um but certainly the board can do whatever they'd like. I would make a motion that we increase this line item to $7,500 and make every effort to stay within it. But second, no back. Yes. Shan Mclofflin, unfortunately, yes.

Helen Palary, unfortunately, yes. Regrettably, yes. Regrettably, yes. Okay. Okay. So, are you doing your magic, Jan? Well, I don't know about magic. I'm I'm trying to do these scribbles with those scribbles equals those scribbles. So, I got a number, Jan, and we can compare when you get your number. Mhm. If anybody else wants to add. I got a number, too. You come up with I'll let somebody else go first. We can play. I got I'll I'll say my number. Okay. Say your number.

1 75471. That is different than what I got. So I'm wondering where I say yours again. Hold on. Oh, you know what? I wonder if I I was might have not been using the right. No, no. I thought it was the right salary. Maybe I messed up. Would you say they'll judge this one? Copy. Um 1705471, but that might not be correct. 0 is right. We use the default that Justin provided for both parttime and full-time salaries. Correct. Yes. That puts us above last year. Oh, it's going to be

Oh, I did. No, that's okay. I skipped over that bit. Don't tell me you missed a whole page. No, I didn't. Now I I'm I'm double checking myself and now I'm starting over. So

I did it. Yeah, I forgot to hit the plus sign a couple times. Ladies are able to knit and do all kinds of stuff. This is a very unusual meeting. My sleeve is going to be much shorter than I thought it would be. You know what? Next time. No, no, no. I'm running out of time. Next time, I hope you don't even have time to do a sock. Toe. A toe.

A toe. forgot to add those other numbers. I think I had predicted 8:30. So, But I can see that. Okay. I'll show you something.

got the same number when I did it for a second time around. 1705. No, one point 175471. Yep. Okay. I got two of these. So, I knew I had added something in twice. Oh, there it is. Right there. $70,000. So, what was the number you got, Darren? Uh 1705471. Even I assume that that is correct. I haven't added mine up as another fun. Okay, what you got?

I got 1686110, which is why I'm wondering, do we want to just go down the line? Let's go. Yep. Salaries. So, salaries, I have 707974. Same. Uh, part-time 406057. Yep. Tuition. Oh, I'm sorry. Nope. We got to do the other things. So, that's parttime. Then we've got 5955 for life insurance. Yep. 69435 for FICA. Yep. 16239 for Medicare. Yep. Uh retirement is 90104. Yep. Tuition is 4770. Yep. Workers comp 2040. Yep.

Management 21347. I just That's a combined because what I did is I just pulled over these. So, and if I'm if I'm wrong on that, someone tell me if I'm wrong on anything. No, it should be 20 25 184. Ah, that might be where we Y sorry 25 184 for the two4. Okay. Do we want to keep going? Y. Okay. Custodial had 31201. Yep. Uh electric was 41418. Uh at 43,000. Yep. 43. 43. I'm really nasty. That's okay. We're good.

Sorry about that. Um, heat and oil is 2131. I have 1680. Yep. So, I really Well, the problem is I was right. I had some changed and some didn't on the sheet. Okay. Water was 4266. No, 447, right? Okay. Sorry. Um, printing 5659. Yep. Yeah, she gets one. Um, dues and subscriptions 8395. Yep. And that's um combined with the library consortium which is 47911. Yep. Um, seminars and workshops 2000. Yep. One minute has a question.

Sorry, am I wrong? Those two lines combined 306. Didn't we add um the 4,000? Did we add 4,000 to that? No. Okay. So, just 56306. 306. Too many numbers. So, we're up to travel I have 1,500. Yep. Um general expenses, uh 7,500. Yes. Uh office supplies, 11099. Yes. Postage 2,000. Yes. Maintenance and repairs 25,000. Yes. Um books and electronic we've combined them to be 141. Yes. Um machine equipment 1,000. Yes.

Furniture 2500. Yes. Adult programming was 2870. But did we add that to all the programming? All the program. Yep. So that then the legal was we said 75. Yep. And you got what number? 1 1,686,110 86110 I like that better than mine. So it's lower 1686. So that's 1686 1 1,686,110 I think that's off. Um because we increased quite a number of items and

I read everything I thought we thing was the the our the part-time salaries. Jan you said 412 and Aaron you said 413 but the default was 406. So that's a difference of uh 7,165. So that's probably what that difference between the default and Eron and Bjan's recommended budget. Um because that was lower than what they had estimated even though we increase some of the expenses we didn't increase them up to the $7,1565. That's correct. So well I had for that one that was the default.

That was the default was 35. No, the default was Are you talking for part time? Part time. Yeah, the default was 40657.

That's off the the blue paper. [Music] What we can do, we can accept this as voted. Not not talking about the total and maybe tomorrow. Well, no, we have to vote on the total. Okay. Well,

yeah, we have to we have to present a total. I just wanted to add if I did the math correctly compared to this fiscal year that is a increase of 4.04%. It's not terrible. I you think we need to set again three of you comparing the same number. You know what this year added in legal and we've not I'm sorry. This this includes legal which we didn't even have last year. Yeah. Yeah. That's Oh yeah. No, it's not that. We have to come up with the the real total. So, do we want to we could go by each line and make sure we all have the same for that line. Jan, are you prepared to do that or I can do that. I just have to uh Yep. Go ahead. Okay.

Just go a little slower. I'm sorry. I will. Um, so if anybody if I'm wrong on anything, somebody tell me. So, I have full-time, I have 707974. Yep. Okay. Part-time 406057. Yep. Um, life insurance 5955. FICA 69435. [Music] Medicare 16239. Tuition, I'm sorry, retirement. Hold on. Um, is that where we're Medicare was 16 239 39. Okay. Thank you. No problem. Are you ready for me to go forward?

Maybe. Maybe. I'm up to I could see she was losing at this point. I'm up to retirement. So, whenever you're ready. Okay. Um one of those little ones. Retirement is 9104. Yep. Yep. Tuition reimbursement was 4770. Yep. Uh workers comp 2040 and then management services is 25184. Okay. Um we're down at custodial services which is 31201.

Yep. Okay. Electric. Um I had 43,000. Yeah. Um, heat was 16680. Water was 447. Printing was 5659. Um, and then we combined the dues and library consortium and that came to 56306. And then seminars and workshops was 2,000.

All righty. Travel and mileage was 1,500. Yeah. General expenses is $7500. Office supplies $11,99. Yes. Postage 2,000. [Music] Maintenance and repairs 25,000. Well, we combine the books and electronics section to 141,000.

Um machine and equipment is a,000. furniture fixtures 2500 and then all the programs were com Oh, that got counted in already. Right. Good. Sorry, my fault. I did that again. Um and then legal was 7,500.

Yep, we got Kate's number. 1686110. Bingo. Hey. All right, Madam Chair, I make a motion that we um uh approve a budget of 1,686,110 for fiscal year 27 at this juncture. Second. Second. Laura, yes. Yes. Jamable. Yes. Helen Heler. Yes. Liz Thomas, yes. Nancy Hendricks, yes. Okay. Thank you very much. Madam

Chair, you didn't vote. Did you not vote with I think she did? I'm sorry. I didn't hear you. My apologies. Um, Madam Chair, I make a recommendation that we um adjourn. What? Can I just ask a quick question before we do that? Who's um how would the who's going to send this to finance or like how is that going to work? Oh, no. She Why can't you She should do it, shouldn't it? I can certainly do it. I can make these updates as recommended by the board and send it. I'll include the board if that's what the board wants. I'm That's fine. Fine. Okay, that's great. I did I did um tell Sean that we would turn it in tomorrow. I will do that tomorrow. By consensus, I would all we all agree. Yes. Yeah. Thank you, Erin.

Okay. I I will include the board on that email. Yeah. If that's a Do you Does everybody want an updated version of mine to put in their mailbox? Perfect. Yes. Thank you. So, I would second the uh treasurer's um motion to adjourn. Okay. Everyone in agreement? Y. Nicely done, Madam Chair. Thank you very much, everyone and Kate. I want to particularly thank you very very