Board of Library Trustees - Grafton Public Library - Regular Meeting

recorded. Okay. So, we'll get started. So, I'll call this meeting to order at 7:08. Um, since it's a virtual meeting, we do have to do a roll call. So, I'll start. Rachel here. Uh, Aaron's here. That's you, Chris. You're up next. Oh, sorry. For some reason, I thought I was after Carrie. Uh, Chris Belts here. Carrie Hogan here.

All right. And again, this is starting to do a motion to approve the minutes for both December and January's board meeting. Uh, I'll make a motion to uh approve the minutes from January's uh board meeting for January. Is there a second? Second. Thanks, Chris. Any discussion? Nope. All right. Then all those in favor by roll call. Rachel I Aaron I Chris I.

Carrie I. All right. So the motion passes. Um do I have a motion for the December board meeting? So the December I just um sent this morning and I completely understand if people want a little more time to review them, but I thought like I'll make the push to get them out there so we we can improve them next month. And I um and I will not be insulted if you um want to wait. Yeah, I think we should table the the minutes. I have not had the opportunity to read them.

We'll defer those to next meeting. All right. Our next order of business is the approval of warrants 32 through 35. We have a motion for that. And I believe last time we said we don't have to do the consent order anymore. So we are are good just to have a motion for them all together. Sure. I'll make a motion to approve um warrant number 32 in the amount of $2,211.17. Warrant number 33 in the amount of $7,187.38. Warrant number 34 in the amount of $7,44956. And warrant number 35 in the amount of $7,67782.

Second. Any discussion? All right, with that then we'll do um roll. We'll go roll call again for all those in favor. Rachel I. Aaron I. Chris I. Carrie I.

All right. So now we can get into the good stuff. So our first um item for ongoing business was Doug's around the um Grafton Public Library capital campaign update. He did send me a note um that they have a request another request from Katrina, but the campaign committee hasn't uh reviewed it yet. So, we will have more next week. And Carrie, I think you're on that committee too. I don't if there's anything else you might add. Right. Um um I agree. Um we did receive the funding request and um so so Katrina, we'll try to get back to you as soon as possible for that. Yes. Thank you. You're up now with our friends update.

Yes. Okay. So um so the the friends met again um and so for um they in the month of uh February they did these uh cute February um uh blind date with a book um fundraiser. So um they you wrapped you know wrapped the books and use some cute stickers and um kind of put little teasers about them to you try and and raise money for the library. I think that was very successful in addition to the book bundle. So that was great. Uh the um the effort to ramp up for the spring egg hunt is underway. Um so that um so you know excited you know for that to happen. It's um always um you know always a lot of fun and it you know it it does um raise money for library as well. So more to come on on that. Um and um so they had um due to all the snow normally um they the collection of or the the request for book donations is always the first Friday of the month and then the Saturday right after it. Um so um in the month of February we had the big storm. So um the library ended up being closed on this on the Saturday. So they extended um the the date uh to the following weekends. Um and you know collected got quite a few books actually. So that was um that was really very good and trying to think if there's anything else. Um I think that was it. I feel like I'm forgetting something but now I um but

send a note that we have to renew up our friend membership too. Yes. Yes. Okay. So yes. So please um Yeah. So um so you know we encourage everybody to join the friends um they are actually um doing a mailing um just because I think that come up at one of our previous meetings and um so um you should you should be expecting a you know a request soon um you to um to support the support the friends. Great. Any questions for Carrie? Great. Yeah, I think that's that's it.

And we just have a note here. Um the annual town elections are May 19th. Um and I believe there's a library board trustee position open. And so um it has a three there's two there's two positions. Yeah. So um if we can so anyone who knows someone good time to get out and if anyone is watching and interested feel free to have them reach out. I'm sure anyone on the committee is happy to to talk about the experience as well.

Um I just wanted to let everybody know that I um picked up my papers yesterday. So if I see you in person, I will and you are a registered voter, which everybody the board should be. I will be requesting your signature. So I was a little bummed that we were virtual today because I'm like, "Oh shoot, it would have been a good opportunity." So, um I did actually want um so I actually went to the library today um and I did want to just raise the the topic um Katrina because we did have a candidate who was interested in doing kind of like a signing um or signing of nomination papers and I guess the my understanding is that that's not allowed at the library. Um so that event is going to be rescheduled to next week, right?

Yeah. And I I believe Katrina feel free to jump in here, but that's not like an our library policy. That's like the libraries of Massachusetts policy, too. So, you know, I I saw I saw that post. I'm like, oh, what a great idea. I'm like, why has nobody thought of that? Like, oh, because you're not allowed to do it. And I believe Kina, we actually posted something, was it in the lobby or something with that exact one because I think we had had some questions on it in the the fall. So, I feel like a notice was put out somewhere. So, we might just want to double check it's like easily seen, especially with like election season coming up. Okay. Like a a no solicitations kind of notice or

I think it was that exact legal document um that like outlines the policy. I think it might have been on one of the bulletin boards at one point too, but just think to consider the if there is a spot for it. I do know the code of conduct is posted um on the second floor um like right outside of the bathroom. So, it is posted. It's not, you know, very large. I'm sure it's it's pretty easy to walk by. So, um, and and I'm happy to answer any questions anybody has about, um, it looks like Aaron has his hand up. So, no, I continue because it's exactly what I was going to bring up. Um,

certainly the one of the reasons I'm a trustee is because the uh, library director approached me and I had no idea what a library trustee was, but you know, she had identified me as a a supporter of the library. um bringing my kids there and really just uh exploring and really loving what Grafton Library had to offer. And so um she was great, answered a lot of questions. Um I again had no idea what a library trustee uh was and what the job was, but here I am 10 years later. So I would encourage you Katrina to um you know start socializing that we do have an opportunity in the board. um you know uh I don't know if we're not asking you to go out and and solicit for us for sure but certainly if there's some um you know upstanding uh citizens who uh you think would be a good candidate you can certainly send them Doug's way.

Yeah. Uh I will certainly do that and I've had some conversations with staff recently about who they thought might be um a good candidate or good candidates for that. So, we'll continue to have those conversations and I'll reach out to people as we move forward. Awesome. Sounds like you're right on top of it. Thank you. There's nothing else on that topic. I think Erin, you're up next with our policy update.

Yeah. So, we had um a full uh policy subcommittee uh group uh which was the first time in as long as I can remember. So, it was really fantastic and and truly productive. Um so Katrina has been um really taking charge of uh the policy work. So she's become really well prepared to the meetings so that we can be productive. Um and really what we've been doing is we kind of passed the point where we've reviewed all the policies that have kind of come through legal. Um uh the one being of course uh the volunteer policy which we discussed at the last meeting um which we did bring back to the policy committee. We made the the language change about um you know ages uh uh 10 to 13 which we had talked about at that meeting. Um I don't recall the specific language but that change was made. Um but then we really talked a lot about um you know Corey checking volunteers under 18 and our um our consensus was it that it doesn't make sense for for us and the library to Corey check our uh volunteers uh who are um under 18 years of age um because they're not under um direct supervision of uh of minors uh nor are they in a um um really not being supervised by staff members uh to make sure that they're they're doing their their duties as a volunteer. Um so uh the policy uh that you're presented to in the in the packet, which I believe it should be in there, um is as it stands as the recommendation from the policy subcommittee. So that'll be up for vote tonight. Um the other topics that we discussed uh were the collection

development policy which uh we gave you guys a kind of a preview of um how we were going to do uh materials challenges in the future and uh so we finalized um uh that policy and so that's uh ready to go to legal. um we're collecting a few policies at a time so that we can um get the most bang for our buck in terms of uh reviewing those policies. So that uh is ready to go to legal and we then we spent uh a bit of time uh reviewing the meeting room policy um which Katrina took us through the newly revised policy um I have some notes here. I'm just going to read them which discuss the allowances and restrictions on how meeting space um is expected to be used and uh the specifics on expectations on how uh the room should be used should be uh um were reviewed as well as an exception for the town municipal resources. Right. So um it's a the library is a town resource. So if the town needs the the library and the meeting rooms for uh a purpose uh for town business, then we need to take that into consideration as well. Um and then we also talked about um booking a room up to 3 months at a time. Um but that can also conflict sometimes with library staff needing space for programming. So it's really valuable to have a staff member with us who was able to uh advocate for um you know the need for programming right so if if a room is being booked up you know up to 3 months it's very difficult for staff members to kind of plan their programming unless they're planning as well you know three or four months 5 months ahead. Um and you know the library is is is is a

service for the community. So it's makes it very difficult, puts the staff in a tough position to um bump patrons who have a legitimate need um for uh for those meeting room spaces. So um it's getting better I think as um you know with Krina at the helm um and and the staff are uh feeling well supported that they are able to do their their uh planning uh much well in advance for their programs. Um so that policy I feel that one is um is that one gone to legal Katrina as well?

Yeah. So both the collection development policy and the meeting room policy I ended up sending to uh the union first for review just so that we didn't waste any money sending it to legal and then uh in case there were any issues. Uh it's come back from the union and I'm sending it to legal tomorrow. So, I hope to have it uh ready, both of those ready for us um for our policy subcommittee meeting next month.

Okay. Excellent. Yeah, I think that's appropriate. Generally, it would go to legal and then um then the union would would review it, but perhaps maybe it's better the other way around that, you know, all the library uh groups have have have reviewed it before it goes to legal. Um, I don't know if that means also that the union might want one last look at it before uh it comes to the board, but we'll have to discuss that at the next policy uh committee meeting. Um, and then the next policy we're going to be reviewing is a facilities rental policy as a priority. So, uh, that's all I have. Uh, any questions?

I just want to say Katrina, great call to loop in with the union first, right? if anything comes back they do have a disagreement with, we just know it was really a legal recommendation and I I think that's really helpful too if there is any questions or things that come up. So I think that's a a great add to the process. Thank you.

So Aaron, did we then any questions on the update before we make a motion to vote on the volunteer policy? In that case, I'll make a a motion to approve the volunteer policy as attached in our packet. There's a second. I make a motion to approve the volunteer policy. And I will second that.

Any discussion? Then all those in favor starting with I'll start myself. Rachel I Erin I I'm not an I. So I don't know if I go now or not. Did you have a discussion on it Chris? Sorry I didn't mean to. It's the same discussion as last week. So I don't have anything else to say. Would you? So, I just don't agree with the 18-year-old age, and I agree with legal that we should have a have more of a So, I I don't agree with it.

Can Sorry. Can you just maybe let's back up then from the voting. I read the meeting minutes, but I don't think like this part came through clear then in the meeting minutes. So, could you just highlight a little bit what the concerns are?

Yeah. Yeah. So, Legal's recommendation was that the all volunteers of all ages be be uh Corey checked. Um, and so that would be any volunteers, not just 18 and over. Um, from the experience that I have working in various roles that that is consistent with what I have done personally. Um, and so I just I don't agree with having a 18 years or older, but I don't I think it was all hashed out last week, so I didn't feel the need to have discussion. Well, I I think um at the after last meeting, Katrina, my understanding was that you were going to do a little bit more uh research because Chris brought up a valid point. Um

I think we need to we need to um we need to either stop the discussion or have the discussion because there's already um a vote on the on the floor. I withdraw my my motion. Okay. So you withdraw the motion on the floor that we just started voting on. Yes.

So I just want to go back to the discussion piece to make sure. So like we have to fully withdraw it, right? The motion was made then you usually discuss and then you vote. And so I I just think we this discussion is still need to have. So however we have to like mechanically do that. I just want to make sure I I fully understand and maybe Katrina can give us that like what you found then as as feedback. So we're all align.

Yeah, if you're ready for me, I'm happy to to discuss. Okay. So, um I reached out to Kristen Pacane, who is the HR coordinator at the town. Um she said that like logistically you can um Corey check 10 to 13 years old but it's not going to do what you want it to do because even if they had records they're sealed so it's not going to generate any results if there are issues. She said that you can at that point Corey check their parents. Um but again that's not really giving us the results that we want. So she did not recommend um Corey checking anybody under the age of 14 period. Um, the other discussion like Erin mentioned that we had is the library functions differently from a rec center or a school department or any other um uh place where there are volunteers with children. None of our volunteers have any kind of power over or um specific time with minors. All of the minors in the library, per our policy, are required to be supervised by their adults, by the caregivers that are coming to them with the library or coming with them to the library. And all of the all of the volunteers are constantly supervised by staff, all of the kids under 18, because they're in the children's room or they're in the teen room and

functionally they're shelving or they're in the workroom um preparing crafts or so there's always a watchful eye. So all of those things combined with the fact that the process of having to Corey children under the age of 18 is going to be a greater administrative burden on the staff when we're already overburdened with the shelving processes is the full picture of why the policy subcommittee decided to keep the language as is. So, I do understand Chris's concerns and I I totally hear you about this, but I don't think that we're functioning in a way that legal is envisioning that would be appropriate for say a rec department or a school department. Um, it's just a different beast. You know what I mean?

I understand what you're saying. I don't agree, but I understand what you're saying. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I have a follow-up question. What is your like do you like do you quy people every year? So like let's say someone is 17, you don't worry them, they then turn 18. Like are you at their birthday then going to furry them?

I I don't believe that's been the process because I'm not sure that we're checking in on people's birthdays as it comes up. It's certainly something that we can look into to make sure that we're crossing our tees and dotting our eyes and making sure that those corey coreies are on um on file as appropriate. So, the way that it's written, it says um that it it sounds like in the way that policy is written that it would only be if um a Corey check if they're 18 when they start and it would happen before they started that. It doesn't have talk about any kind of rechecking or again like Rachel said like if they're underage like my daughter is a volunteer, she's 17. She will be turning 18 in the fall. So, you know, so like that's a valid question like um you know, would would she get Corey checked when she turns 18 and would you even know that she turned 18, you know? Well, and I do wonder if that's part of the reason legal recommends doing everyone right. You cover yourself like for all that's keeping the administrative burden off at the beginning. You now then have to follow every other person to make sure you hit them then when they're 18 like like and you also are now differentiating two different processes. So you're going to have to make sure someone doesn't accidentally not quy query someone who's 18 years and older too. So I think Katrina, if this is like if this is a decision the policy committee made to purely just lessen your burden from administrative standpoint, I'd actually argue it's creating a lot more administrative burden that that you're going to have to keep up and follow with it, too. Well, I mean, if the policy like Carrie said is that you'll you only corey kids

or people who at the start of their volunteer process are 18 or older, then do we not have to pay attention to their date of birth? Sounds like we're opening up the risk then of people not being court, right? Because like the argument is if they're younger, they're being supervised more, right? they're then now not and aren't being they they still would be. So, you know, when Car's daughter turns 18 in the fall and she's volunteering in the teen room, she's still going to be heavily supervised period like because that's just the process. That's that's the volunteer role in place. I

do we um periodically Corey like our employees like when they're hired I would imagine there's a a check but but we don't No, I don't think so. So, I don't know. I mean, I think employees have different like there's different things you agree to as a town employee though and like things you can hold them accountable to. I think and you do a background check at least, right? Like I believe there's a back there is a background check process. Yeah, I'm sure there's a back when you're hiring and so there's probably some level of that within it. Rachel, could you step a little closer to the microphone? It sounds like you're underwater a little bit.

Oh, thank you for saying something, Erin. I appreciate it. Um, I was just ask I was saying that there's like background checks and stuff before we hire folks. So, I would imagine there's some level of due diligence within that, Carrie.

But that but that I guess is similar though, right? So, like we're doing a background check before the person starts and then we're, you know, kind of supervising and monitoring them once they started. So that's kind of the same thing like if if we did the the Corey check if they're 18 when they start and we do the Corey check then then we're kind of that's kind of like the background check and then if they're younger than that you know they you know they don't have record and we and we're supervising them. So we've you know we're kind of building up that level of trust by the experience that we've had working with them. So I'm okay with it the way that it's worded. I just wanted to make sure we're all clear on on what it means, right? Um but that's the way that I interpreted the um you know that the wording is that when you apply if you're 18, you get Corey checked. If if you're not, you're not Corey checked. And and then you know again I hear what you're saying Katrina like it's it's a highly supervised role. I think the other points which are in will be in my meeting minutes for policies subcommittee was that um this policy is consistent with the town's policy on volunteers which is why we're also um leaning more towards not Corey checking under 18. Um, and it also does uh alleviate some of the costs with Corey checks for the town as well um that you know um we felt were um not really right for our organization.

So just to recap, Katrina, we don't do like a yearly quarry check on all our volunteers. We do it once at the beginning. once at the beginning. Is that in line with what the town does, too? Because that that part feels weird, too, to me.

I'm not sure what the town does. Um, in all of my previous experience, this would be consistent with all the other libraries that I've ever worked at. So, I don't for what that's worth. I'd like to move the discussion. So, so certainly

certainly we've we've discussed this um at length at the last meeting to the point where um we had all agreed it would come back to policy subcommittee. The policy subcommittee, you know, consist of um two trustees and two library staff. Um, so we've had uh perspective of people who um really put a lot of thought and time into thinking about this and you know really to keep discussing it is not productive. Um I know everybody's trying to um um make make you know come to terms with this. So, as a as a as a governing body, as a board, we need to either um vote it down and say this is what we want for our library and and we'll make the change, you know, contrary to what the policy subcommittee came up with and and and legal was recommending. Um or we we we approve this because we do need a volunteer policy. We can't have another meeting where we don't come to a decision on this.

That's fair. Did you want to make a motion then? Um, yes. I make a motion to approve the volunteer policy as contained in the meeting packet. Second. That's uh motion and second by Carrie. Any more discussion? That's the case. Um, we'll go through by roll call for approval. Rachel, I'm a no. Uh, Aaron I. Chris, no Carrie I.

So I think that's a stalemate because we have an even number of people today. So I don't think it I think you need majority to move forward. So um I think it's going back to to the policy committee. I think um so we'd need a directive from the board on on on what what the board wants, right? So if um if I would say that nothing's going to happen at policy subcommittee um because we've made our recommendation without a direction from the board 50/50 is not a direction right so we'd probably have to just bring it to the board meeting uh next month if we have more people is what I would uh say unless somebody has something different. No

I think that's a reasonable way forward. Sorry Rachel. No, I think Chris, I agree. I think the two things because I know you just talked about like pouring, right? I think Katrina, that's a very valid point about that like zero to 13, it doesn't act nothing's going to come back, right? I I guess the other question I would have is like the cing once like to me I don't like it would be just good to know like like that's where it feels off at the end of the day. So, we can bring it back to the larger committee. Um, but a 17-year-old who isn't quarried and if you had waited like three months and they would have been, right? I I can't tell you why we shouldn't have qui them if something was to happen out of it. And and that's what I have in the back of my head, too. So, we'll table this for next meeting. So, we'll we'll throw it on the agenda for there. Um, and then we can go from there. So, and thank you, policy committee. I know it's frustrating. You guys have put in a lot of work. So, I I do appreciate it. Um, and I also appreciate everyone's thoughts and opinions, right? The the policies are important to what we do here.

So, I I would like to know if there's something you'd like us to consider. I haven't heard any any new arguments besides uh Corey Czech under 18 versus Corey Czech over 18. Is there any any other like um ideas that had come out of it? because I think I've I've heard that uh the town we don't know if the town uh checks annually and and maybe we need to add that to our policy.

Yeah, if we can just explore like the refresh frequency of a Corey. Um in the past when I volunteered places like you have to get it refreshed and so things change over time. So I don't even know if we want to stick with a once a year but I don't know if that's the town standard. So, okay, Katrina, does that sound like something you can find out from the town? Absolutely. Thank you. All right. Um, well, I have nothing else. Our next uh meeting will be on March 4th, 2026. All right. New business. Uh, Katrina, you have a funding request for us.

I sure do. So, um, and I have a couple. If you're looking at the most recent agenda, correct? I think there's a couple there between the two.

So, you will remember um a few months ago, our water heater broke. There was a gas smell. The fire department was in. We had the plumber come and take apart the entire water heater. um spent the whole day getting the out of the middle and showing me all of the yucky parts and basically said, "Our water heater is going to break again within the next six months, even despite all of the parts that he replaced." Uh because the because of the water quality in Grafton um without a filtration system, it is causing the water heater to gunk up because of the a the water quality and b the type of um water heater that it is. So he working with the town um submitted the this proposal um it's the Smith Solutions plumbing one. I'm happy to share my screen if that's helpful. while I have it up. But um in the amount of $19,58062, this would be to install um a like a large building scale infiltration system with bypass valves so that they can do annual maintenance. It would stop the grimy water from reaching the water filter or the the water heater and extend the life of our water heater. There is another piece to this um where eventually we'll need a new water heater. Um that wasn't quoted in here. Uh Evan is looking into seeing how long we can extend the life of the one that

we have, but we're also running out of time because the plumber gave our water heater another six months from December. Um so we're about halfway through now and it's going to start to degrade or is already starting to degrade. So, um I would like the trustees to consider funding installing a filtration system for our water um system so that we can um mitigate the issues that are continuing to occur. So just a question um Katrina have we um I think um one of the previous meetings um we had a request about available funds. So did did you identify um a fund a possible fund for this?

This would be from state aid. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Right. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Trina, do we have the amount we have left in state aid? I It's roughly $200,000.

Um, it is in the just so you know, it is in the uh packet. Um, it's right after my director's report. There should be a trial balance sheet with um the numbers of all three of the um the state aid fund lines. Thank you. And um when you talked to the town, they felt that was a reasonable cost for the filtration system based on what they've been putting into other buildings. Yes, they do. And it's one of the plumbers they've been using in the other building, too.

So, um, so yeah, this is Smith Solutions. He's actually local. He's a Grafton resident. He grew up in this town. He cares very deeply about the, um, the town as a whole and the library. And, um, he's been servicing the town buildings for quite some time. And, um, Evan and William trust him. They he's done some good work. um save the town some money when the water man burst in the municipal building a few months or a few years ago I guess. So um yeah

Trina I know that it talks about kind of at least annual maintenance in the quote um potentially more depending on how much usage it gets and how what the water quality ends up shaping up to be. Was there uh any kind of maintenance contract? Do we have one already with Smith Solutions? We do not. Okay. Sorry. Yeah, we do not have a current maintenance contract. I'm sorry. Zoom.

Um yeah, there's no current maintenance contract. Um and my understanding is that um the system as it's built out or as it's um described in this quote would allow for annual as opposed to more frequent uh maintenance. Okay. Yeah. Thank you, Erin. saw you were on mute.

I thought you had called on me when I had my hand up, but no worries. So, I started talking. Um, so I'm really just thinking about is it foolish to not do the entire project now or wait? But I think I kind of in my silence I I kind of convinced myself. So, the way I imagine this this going is yes on the filtration system. I think that's a fantastic idea and you know I would certainly um enterain I would put up a motion to approve the filtration system you know but to also do the water heater. So I guess let's say we still got 6 months out of it. Um we're going to get some indication that it needs to be replaced. Hopefully it's not catastrophic, you know. Um because that that certainly could happen. Um but then at that point we would just engage Smith Solutions to put in a new water tank. We'd probably have to close the library for a day or two and even for this work too. Um you know because I don't think you can really operate the building without um uh work with water, right? That would be a reason to close the library. Um

any indication on how many days it would take? I actually don't know that. Yeah. Um yeah. Okay. Well, um I think we can we can manage um that at at a later date to determine how many days we'd actually have to close the library for that to have that water filtration system installed. But um yeah, I can uh Rachel, if you're ready, I can do a motion to um to approve the filtration system.

Yeah, just one quick thing and then it would be a great time to make that motion. I think that's a fair point, Erin, about if we're going to have to close the library anyway, like we should and we're like I'm assuming you'll have to do both at if doing both at the same time is the same amount of time closing the library for, we should consider that. Um, but I I think in the meantime, if you make a motion, Erin, like we can at least get that ball rolling. But just something to consider if we're going to do it all together in closing the library. Chris, I see your hands. Yeah. The one other kind of question on timing, you know, I know for residential water heaters for the most part at this point, you know, if you need to replace it, you can do it almost same day.

I would assume that for whatever is in the library, it's probably slightly larger. And I don't know if I think understanding if if those things are readily available on the market when it needed when it's needed, if it breaks, that might be helpful in understanding whether we should do that now or later. If there's going to be a weak lag time in addition to, you know, an additional, that might be helpful to know. I don't know if that's the case. just

Yeah. Yeah. It's And um just to jump in a little on the the catastrophic nature of things, um there are warning signs that we were experiencing that happened over a number of months. For instance, the um we noticed that the water pressure for the hot water was not there at all. and we didn't realize or or make the connection to that and the water heater until we realized that the water heater was breaking. So, and like um there was no that the children's washing machine wasn't working. Um and again we didn't make the connection that it was because the water heater was so silted um

that so so there are these small kind of um what canary in the coal mine things that we've been looking for and waiting for um so that it's sort of an early warning sign. So I'm I mean who knows something catastrophic might happen but my guess is it's more likely that we'll start to see signs of failure like that. um as opposed to this big um break. You know what I mean?

I guess the other thing too is um of course the water filtration system will be beneficial for the hot water heater, but there are other you know things like the washing machine too that and the pipes and um that are also being affected. So the longer we delay, the more risk that we have a catastrophic failure for something e in addition to the water heater.

Um and then Katrina, did you work up a town? Will they replace the filter on the filtration system? Like who's maintaining and updating that? Because if you do lose water pressure sometimes it's just your filter's really dirty, too. So, also just a heads up, don't like, yes, our furnace is probably going, but double check the the new filtration system first. So, just how did they did you guys work that out? Uh, we did not work that out. I'm assuming that this would be part of our um annual maintenance and repair line item that we would request um during budget season.

Okay. And maybe it's different on the industrial ones, but on your personal ones, like it's very easy to change out the filter, place it. Um, it's just the cost of the filter. So, I I would just be interesting to hear like from the town administrators how they're managing it in other buildings, whether they have like like someone come in and do it or if their maintenance team is just taking care of it as it comes up. Oh, wow. Interesting. Okay. I can certainly look at that, maybe. All right, Erin, we're ready for your motion. Yes. And uh one last question, Katrina. Um is do we have a recommendation from the town that this is the best course of action to to approve the the filtration system? Yeah,

we do. Yes. Okay. I'll make a motion um to approve the installation of a water filtration system for the Grafton Public Library. uh approving the quote in the amount of $19,580 uh to be paid from state aid. I'll second that. Any discussion? I think I saw Carrie raise her her hand. She was on mute, so I think I think Rachel wins that one. Um okay, if there's no discussion, then uh we'll call for a vote. Rachel I Erin I. Chris I. Carrie I.

All right. The motion passes. Thank you everyone. Thank you Katrina. There's a lot of work around it. So we appreciate it. Absolutely. We'll we'll get this uh we'll get this building in ship shape. All right. And so my Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. I was saying you have the next one for us.

All right. Um, so the other uh quote that I received was from Barard Roofing. Uh, we had received a quote from them prior to my arrival here, I think, under um Tom's u umbrella, but this is in um in respect to the number of leaking gutters around the building. Um you'll remember that outside the teen room, there was a particular problem with um leaking gutters that were causing water to come under the emergency exit in the teen room door and cause uh water damage around the carpet and around the door. there is leaking gutters um near the exterior um uh book return uh spot and um also some areas that we were going to have them look at about around the uh historical building. So, this quote is to fix all of those um gutters uh and just kind of remediate all of the issues as identified in the um in the quote. On a related note, when I was at the library today, I saw Sean in the teen room and um I noted that there wasn't any wet carpet and he said, "Oh, but just wait until it starts melting." Um and he and he said we need to have that shoveled out, I guess. So, I just wanted I told him I would mention it, so thought this was a good time.

Thank you. So Katrina is asking me I'll take that back to the town, right? I'm sorry. Take that back to the town. The shoveling piece then. Okay. Sure will. Thank you. Um I was just reading through this quickly the the terms and conditions. Do they have any like warranty on it? So like they're going to do all this work on the soldering. Is there like do they have a warranty on their soldering in case like it it also is faulty? That is a great question. I do not know.

And is this the company that like the town uses if they're Yes. So this this contract was actually um William Blake took point on this and reached out to uh they're they're somebody that we work with already. Um, so he was the one who who reached out for the um the quote for me. I don't think not knowing about the warranty would would change my point, but I think just something to ask um probably on everything we're having done because I feel like sometimes we have problems that come up after. So, it's it's good to have it in writing if there's a warranty or if we can negotiate that within the contract. I wouldn't

there are terms and conditions at the beginning on page 57. Um yeah warranty of the work yeah I think it's more like what's excluded but yeah I was just looking at that.

Any other questions for Katrina? We have a motion. So, um I I I don't want to say I'm dubious of of what they've uh said they're going to do here. Um, but I just want to make sure that in the end the issues are remediated because they are um, you know, they're certainly persistent. Like every time it rains, uh, you always have the water spilling out of the gutter into the, um, into the mulch and it's just, you know, running down uh, into the into the drainage. Um, so we just we I mean we have a couple of good photos um but and and it says what they're going to do, but in the end like I don't know if it's warranty or or whatever it is, we need some sort of like um you know litmus test, right? That we accept you know the work that's done and it's fixed the problem. Um

because otherwise what why why spend this money? Um but does the town um ALS please the town recommends um Smith sorry so this is Barnard roofing is this uses yes okay yes this was recommended by the town okay um I can also make a motion Excuse me.

Um, I will make a motion to approve the quote from Barard Roofing uh for the gutter repair of the Grafton Public Library. Um, in the amount of Help me with that number real quick. Oh, sorry. That is $8,550. Uh, in the amount of $8,550 and 0 to be paid from state aid. Chris and Carrie, they can split that. Chris can have it. You can have it. Oh, you can have it, Carrie. Any discussion? All right. All those in favor by roll call. Rachel, I

Aaron I. Chris I. Carrie I. And it carries. Thank you so much Katrina. We are very excited to get our gutters fixed and repaired. So definitely looking forward to this. Um if you can let us know next meeting where it landed with on the warranty stuff and then also if they have to wait for the snow to stop or melt or anything. My guess is we probably will. Yeah. Yes. I figured there'll be a delay but just like let us know an estimated timeline because I know we'll all be waiting. So

yes. Yeah. So um no one caught me on it but I gave the wrong amount on the last uh motion. the $8,550. Yeah, but and I said in zero cents. Um but I didn't scroll down to look at the quote. The quote has a different amount in it. I mean, it's it's 62 cents, but somebody's going to have to pay out of pocket if if it's not approved. Um it it looks like it does say 850 on page 59. I I think Erin's talking about the Smith Solutions one. Yeah. Oh, okay. Oh, okay.

Yeah. Um, do you want to go? Let's just do a quick revote of that one then. Yeah, I I can um I can amend the previous motion for the water filtration system um to be uh approved in the amount of $19,58062 to be paid from state aid. Seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor by roll call. Rachel I. Erin I. Chris I. Carrie. I. All right. The motion passes again. You get your extra 62. Thank you. Good catch, Erin. Thank you.

All right. And I think you have one more for us, right? Not for um funding quotes. Okay. Yeah, because it's zero, right? It's zero. I know. What a great number. All right. So then, uh, walkabout and then we'll we'll go back to the director's report. So, unfortunately, the walkabout was going to happen in the last two days. So, that did not occur. Um, so we'll have to wait baited breath until next month for that, the next installment. See if you can get like the water and the filtration and stuff fixed before the next one. Then you'll you'll be get checking off lots of boxes. So on this

Well, thank you Chris for making that time to to to go through that. So all right, back to Katrina.

Okay, so um I'm assuming everybody had a chance to look at the director's report. Pretty pretty straightforward. The only thing that I did want to um well a couple of things that I did want to mention under building and grounds um just pointing us toward the East Coast renewable energy proposal um in the amount of $26,1667. It's going to save us approximately $5,000 um in repairing fees for the EV chargers that are existing and broken. um because this will be um grant funded and East Coast will entirely manage the grant. Um so we don't really have to do anything which is wonderful. Um I'm not sure if the trust like do the trustees need to approve the work? Um I'm assuming because you're um in charge of the grounds question mark. Yeah, I think we want to vote on it because it's day-to-day operate like operations around it. So,

that's what I figured.

Um, so that's that will be up for a vote then, but that is very exciting that we going to get that grant um and replace the chargers. The library continues to experience a roof in the leak. That's like a leak in the roof. Wow, mixing up all my words tonight. Um, probably due to an ice dam. There's a lot of snow and there's a lot of ice on the roof. Um, and we did have Rockwell roofers up there to assess. They shoveled some stuff out. They said we can't actually get to it because there's like inches worth of ice layering um around the water drainage site on the roof. Um, so we're sort we're sort of just putting buckets underneath it and and catching it until such time as we can repair.

Is it coming into the building or like where it's coming into the building? So what part of the building is it coming into?

So on this obviously the second floor um do you know the bathroom behind the borrower services desk? It's right it's right outside that bathroom like between um between the bathroom and uh the borrowed services window. It's like that corner right there. So right above um that area is the downspout for the entire roof drainage system. And so all of the water um as it's melting is coming into that drain and then it gets siphoned off the side of the building. But unfortunately because there's some kind of a leak there that we can't get to um it's dripping through the ceiling. So,

um, have we called a company yet to do like the like it's not quite water mitigation, but like essentially you have water sitting in your walls, it can call cause mold and stuff as it continues to leave. So, how do we handle that piece?

An excellent question. Um, from what I can tell, there's So, please please come by and and take a look at this with me to make sure that I'm handling this the right way. But um I can actually see like to the outside from the se cuz we took out the ceiling tiles. Um so that it would not one of them unfortunately got so water logged before we realized what was happening that it fell to the ground and crumbled in a yucky mess. Um so we just took out the ones in the area so that the same thing wouldn't happen and inadvertently fall down on top of somebody. Um, so the the the above the the ceiling tiles, um, there's really not a lot going on. So there's kind of a direct line from the leak in the roof to the bucket. Um, so I think we're okay in that sense. I don't think that we're going to be experiencing any mold on the walls or anything. Yeah. I And I think this is something where like pulling in like William might be a good option just to see because I'm sure they've dams other or dams in other buildings too. Is this something where file an insurance claim or is the town selfinsured around this for ICE dams?

An excellent question. I can look into that. And I guess as you're looking into it, sometimes it doesn't make sense to file a claim because your insurance is going to go up that much more. So there's usually like a threshold where you just kind of do the repair theelves. So it'd be good to just know what the how the town handles those ones, too. Okay, great. Yeah, I'll definitely look into that. So So that's that. Um

um just um I guess to go back to the EV. So um so you said something about East Coast, but the the paperwork says EVS. I don't see East Coast anywhere on there. Um so just was curious about that. And um and of course um even if we aren't paying any money, I'm assuming legal would review any contract that we enter into with them and just make sure you know to understand any liability that we might have for the EV stations.

I I'm not sure what the process is for that. I I I would I would think that we should have legal looked at any sort of agreement or any expectations like if they're installing their equipment um you know you know at our site um either you know and it's outside the library so you know I don't know if that's in the purview of William and Evan but I think it's something that would make sense to discuss with them and just understand um because it's they use them as well that same.

Yes. And so to be clear, this is also something that William is managing. He he's working directly with East Coast on this. Okay. Okay. And I see Chris's uh hand raised um more polite than than me. So sorry, Chris, go ahead. That's okay. And it looks so I know currently it's free for people to charge. It looks like it will be have a very nominal fee um going forward. Is that accurate? Five five cents per kilowatt hour. It looks like on page 66. Let's look.

And I'm I'm not opposed to that if that if this seems to be something where it can take the you know it's pretty nominal fee as as things go. Uh but just wanted to confirm we knew what the pricing would be for the end user. Yeah. The driver. Yeah. So, it does look like it's um it is a a 5 cent kilowatt per kilowatt for the driver.

And I think if it's consistent with what we're doing, like I I think it's important for us to be consistent with the rest of the EV chargers in town. So, if that's consistent with what they're doing for the other chargers, I think that would would make sense, right? because I mean we don't want you know like oh the library is free but you're paying 5 cents so then you know like it's it should just be consistent. I agree.

And then Katrina the one question I had too is um when I was reading through I didn't see anything about their service and support and that was our main issue with our existing vendor is they wouldn't come out and fix anything or maintain it. So where can we have something in writing on the maintenance and support piece around this? Sure, absolutely.

Um and then there was a piece too on there about the mass sales tax on equipment unless we get a tax exempt certificate. Do we know about how much that would be and if we're likely to get tax exempt? So we um as a municipality we are tax exempt. Okay. Yeah. And and the library has our own um exemption as well.

So are you I guess how quickly are you looking to have this move through? I know at least from my end I really want to see like the maintenance and support piece. I I think it's great we're doing what the town's doing. I think the town administrators really have like they have a lot of these, right? So, I'm sure they have some of this in in place. So, are you looking to sign the contract like before the next meeting and have an approval for us? Is there time to get that service agreement over?

I think that there's time to do it. I I mean, currently the Chargers are buried in snow, so I don't I don't really see them being able to come out in the next month unless we miraculously get all of our snow melted. Um, so I'm I'm happy to do all the leg work and just double check beforehand. And if if we need like if they do need to go ahead and you can get that stuff to us sooner, we can we can hop on for something quick just to to talk about it too.

Um I don't know about the rest of of the board, but I'd be hesitant till we see that service agreement to really lock anything in. I I agree. This looked great. I was happy to see it. Great. Thank you. So, okay.

I um I think what I'm hearing and I've been quiet because I'm also kind of looking at this product. Um and I I sometimes when there's a zero cost, it almost seems like it's too good to be true. And I think it was important, you know, Carrie brought up a great point about checking with legal and you know, Chris brought up a great point about well, okay, now it's incurring a cost and maybe that's how they're paying for it in the end. Yes, they're using mass rebates, but um you know, they're making the five cents, you know, from somebody's making that money, right? And then um we're still paying for the electricity, right? Also, uh to to to power um the town's paying for the electricity to power people's cars, right? So, who's paying that that increased electric bill? Right now, it's the library. Um, so, uh, I I almost want to get I don't I'm gonna say like a professional opinion. Um, but if William Blake has already kind of done his due diligence with this technology in this vendor, um, and it almost seems like the town is is uh, you know, William in part of the town is is kind of offering to manage this for us and kind of take it off our plates. Is that kind of what I'm understanding? Yeah, I think that's positive.

Yep. Okay.

Um Yeah. So, I don't know if um we can just get some reassurance from a professional that, you know, I don't know if the these particular devices have a bad track record, you know, and maybe that's why we're getting them for free, you know, or should we consider something different, right? Um, but it did say that there's a 5-year warranty on it, but then we'll have to pay probably somebody to to to to fix and repair them. Um, but it looks like they have a lifespan of 10 plus years. Um, I I didn't find any information if what they're considered like as a supercharger. So, it' be interesting to know how quickly someone's car can charge um as compared to our current one, right? So, if we're going to install something new, we want to get the town excited about it. even if they have to pay a fee now um that their car is going to be charged, you know, up to 80% in an hour or whatever that is instead of having to leave your car overnight. Um I think that would be really interesting to kind of see how it compares to our current technology. I think Katrina for our next meeting it would be great if we have William come right because I think this is part of a larger town strategy and how they're approaching it and just understanding how we we fit in. I think that would be really helpful in addition to the um because I'm I'm sure Erin he he might have some of those answers too and there might be a few other ones that come up. Um, and then just as we think through like the service and support, it would be great just hearing from from him like what they're going to do versus like what the vendor is going to do and then understand if we need to put like any like memorand what the MOA or anything in place that he would need to for them to be taking on whatever role here. So, we could probably do that most efficiently if we bring him to the next meeting.

Okay. Yeah, I'll bring that up with him. Thank you. Thank you. This is exciting. Another big thing. I think you hit the the water, the roof, and our charging system. So, you guys have been busy. So, we're we're trying. Uh did the committee have any other questions about anything else in the director's report before we hit some of those topics around like budget stuff? Those are specifically called out outside of director's report, too. Nope. Only thing I'll say is I love the list of items over $2,500. I don't know if that was in there last last month, so I missed it, but I really like that addition.

So that is part of our annual report that goes to the town and under town charter that is required to be in the annual report. Okay. So that's an um that's an annual amount. So over the course of FY25, we paid those businesses $2,500 or more. All right, you want to walk us through the the budget part, which I know is the most exciting part that you've been looking forward to. Here we go.

All right. So, um let's see. I guess starting on page 43. Um that is our year or yeah yeartoate um library expenditures report. Um the percentages in the right hand column are the percentages that we have spent. So where we are in the year we want to be at around 66%. We're about um eight months into the year now. So, um, obviously repair and maintenance were hurting, which is why I'm coming to you with all of these, uh, proposals. Um, doing pretty well in most areas. Um, we're starting to So, Ingram, our our book dealer, has finally gotten staffed after one of the other national book dealers folded um and put intense pressure on the one that was left. Uh, so they're finally getting things to us a little faster. So, those numbers are going to start to come up under materials expenditures. So, um I think we're in a good a good place there. Um some of the lower numbers like um DVDs and CDs, we've um reallocated some of those funds to um video games and kits and um other line items because the publishers aren't publishing CDs and DVDs like they are. and also patrons aren't um using those collections the way that they used to. So next year when we allocate the line items, we're going to be uh looking a little deeper at um how we allocate things within each

column based on the usage that we've been seeing. Um all right. Did anybody have any any questions about that one? Well, um, so the video game expenditures, right? Um, if we're if we're, you know, using some of the DVD, CD, uh, budget, uh, towards the the video game, um, expenditures, then I would expect, you know, those line items, right? um

would have been I guess I'm just trying to understand because I didn't realize there was a line item for video games as well. Um but I I would certainly agree with you there's probably some scrutiny needs to um be done surrounding you know uh digital materials uh physical digital materials um because you're right there's an absolute shift in terms of what people are are um how they're using the collections um and I don't think we've been doing very much with Blu-ray anymore. People are people aren't asking for Blu-ray. Yeah.

Right. Yeah. Yeah. people have uh for the most part really been relying on DVDs when they want those um published movies media. So um we still have like we're still purchasing Blu-ray as available. Um but it's not a priority and it's certainly not something that we're seeing patrons request a lot of. So yeah, I I think the strategy is is good. uh then we'll just have to make sure that the budget reflects that next year that that new strategy. Um yeah,

you know, I think at any any given time as long as you're making sure that patrons have access to what they're requesting and what they what they want. Um I mean there's always the off chance that oh I really wish I I could watch that movie, you know, and you're feeling nostalgic. So so you end up just um requesting it from another library, which I think seems to work for us. That's how I would do that. Anyways, yep.

Katrina, I question for you. So, I very much understand why our repair and maintenance budget is at 100%. Would we be able to get a breakdown of all that and then all of our other repair and maintenance like expenditures or paid off state aid or other funds? I think as I was looking, I believe our budget actually went down about 3,000 in our repair and maintenance with what we're presenting this year. And so I I just think it's worth when we go out to like there's a bigger picture, right? So it's it looks like we're just going down 3,000, right? But I just want to make sure the town's aware of everything else we're paying for as well and that there there are a lot of costs there. And so it would just be helpful if we do get that breakdown and which things we think are going to be reoccurring costs versus like every year you see just a couple things break in maintenance versus like we've still our heating system which we we are hoping we are closing out. Um I just think that better tell the story as we're all getting into budget season.

Yep. I totally agree. And actually, if you go to page 52, Rachel, I remembered your request from last month, and I did pull that together for you. Um, so page, yeah, page 52. Um, unfortunately, it's sideways, so I apologize for that. Um, but so my original request to the town for the repair and maintenance line item for FY27 was actually $60,000. Um but then when they came and requested that I prepared the um reduction budget that that was one of the biggest things that um we needed to there was there's one of the only line items that I could cut in any amount. Um so on that document on page 52 um in the pink are contracted services. Um, so those are like the CWMR's annual fee and the Bibliotecha annual fee. So kind of the library centric ones. The blue ones are our building maintenance contracts. So these are the um the items that we pay for every single year that we are contracted to pay for. So things like our kitchen suppression system inspection and the fire extinguisher inspections and carpet cleaning and pest control service and that kind of thing that um I would say quote needs to happen every year. There's a couple of things in there that I'm looking into um either cancelling or um reducing like our pest control service. I didn't realize that Ransford comes literally every month to check the mouse traps and I don't know that we need that. So, um I am trying to poke holes in some

of the things that we've got going to save some of the costs. Um unfortunately, it's not $40,000 worth. Um but, you know, we'll we'll try to chip away at it. That's helpful. It's interesting because some of those things that are budgeted under repair and maintenance, like the CW Mars, I wouldn't think that's repair and maintenance, right? That's like a contract, which is a different line item.

Yeah. So, I did Yeah, I did put our contracted services in with this spreadsheet and hence the color difference. So, we do have a line item. Um, so there's repair and maintenance, which is the what the blue would come out of, and then there's contracted services, which is what the pink would come out of. So there are two different um, uh, allocated line items in our um, municipal budget that these would come from. Okay. And then does it have all the state aid ones in here? And I don't think the request was for me last month because I couldn't make it. So whoever else did, thank you. This is a really It was the month before.

Okay. Um, uh, no, nothing that we have, um, paid out of state aid as of yet is reflected in here because those were one-time costs as opposed to, um, annual maintenance costs. Okay. Thank you. Are you feeling okay? was where the budget landed with repair and maintenance.

No. Um to be honest, uh I I mean obviously I'm hoping for an override so that we get our full request uh because we would use it and that will certainly be part of my presentation to the finance committee on March 14th. Um, I think that the I think that we're going to it's going to be it's going to be tough if uh if we have to work with this reduction budget um I think that we're going to have to um come up with a plan to use state aid funds um for a lot of these line items. Unfortunately, um it's it's not it's not going to be fun.

Yeah. So, I guess I have a question, Katrina. So, when looking at the package, so on page 47, um I see um I see the original request and the reduction and the reduced budget. And then I see everything adding up down to the 75,000. But I thought I thought that the 75,000 um I thought I saw somewhere that it was going to be staff, but um but it looks like it that's it looks like it's um a part-time staff.

So So that I guess the 8,271 um and then you were able to spread it across other lines of the budget. So there would be one part-time person affected or a part of a part-time person affected. A part of a part-time person would be affected. Yeah. Okay. So last last fiscal year we gained um I think it was 10 hours for one of our part- timerrs and this would take away about six of those hours. Okay. Okay. Yeah.

But that's better than what we thought. It was advertised as being 75,000 of staff, library staff, and I don't know where that came from, but okay. But thank you for clarifying that.

So, yeah. And it was a little confusing for me, too. So, my the initial email that I received from the um finance director was 40 hours worth of staff time and $75,000 from the budget. Um, and hence my panicked email to Rachel and Doug. Um, and then after some clarify, I actually had a a meeting with uh William and Evan about the building related issues that I just presented to you and um picked their brains about that one. And Evan was like, "No, it's just $75,000." And I was like, "Really?" Because that wasn't what the email said. Yeah, that's a huge difference. So I was I was relieved.

That is a relief because I was like I didn't I couldn't think of who like what what you would do. So um I mean of course we don't want to lose any hours but um but that's certainly much better than than what um it sounds like traditionally. So thank you. Yes. Yeah. And that was my approach was um if I it's all I I wanted to uh minimize the amount of staff hours that we needed to lose. So I would rather have taken out of our um expenses lines than our staff line. Okay.

So that's that was my priority. And that still obviously complies with the requirements, you know, for, you know, accreditation and and everything, of course. Yes, that was something that I was very careful. So, you'll notice that um I didn't touch the educational supplies line because that's going to keep us at that 15%. So, that we'll be able to stay accredited. And I already had conversations with um a representative from the Mass Board of Library Commissioners um just to verify that if this budget were to go forward, we would keep our certification. So that's perfect. Thank you. Yeah.

I don't know if Doug's already going to the March 14th finance board. I think I remember last time I heard usually like board members. So I don't know if Deb already agreed to meet other people there. Uh I haven't heard anything. I would certainly welcome the the support. Um don't feel like you have to, but I'll I'll be there. I think we just have to be um cognizant of the fact that if we have um more more than three trustees, then it's a quorum. So we just have to make sure that we don't have more than three.

Yeah. We can we'll coordinate offline. Carrie, I'll send a note and we can just see anyone's going. So, perfect. Thank you, Rachel. Y great.

Um Oh, and then um I just wanted to bring your attention to page 53. So, um this is my my internal building maintenance spreadsheet. Um, a quick plug for the SharePoint site. This was something that, um, I guess y'all had created with Kim and Tom prior to me getting here. Um, this lives like in a public place so that you can see it as you need. Um, but this is sort of the ongoing um repair costs and totals along with um the monies that I have expended out of the pre-approved $20,000 emergency repairs. So you'll see the roof leak there and also um we have uh an electrician coming in to um replace the exit signs at the front entrance so that they have the handicap um accessibility icon on them which I guess is part of um state code and the building was never uh originally designed for that and we need it in order to pass our building inspection. So, um, that's going to be happening as well. I just wanted to let you know that.

Um, I I need to step away for a few um moments. My my daughter needs me. I apologize. I will I will be back. Thank you. Thanks, Carrie. Any other questions for Katrina? Katrina, anything else you want to make sure we know about the budget?

That was everything. And that brings us to any public input. Um, and it looks like we have a couple people who um are attendees. So, I'm just going to press the allowed to talk button because I think that will let me find out if you have anything to add or not because I don't know if um a chat would come through. So, Allison and I allow you folks to chat in case there's anything you want to add.

I have nothing to add. This is Cindy. Thanks. Thanks, Cindy. Hi, Cindy.

Hi, guys. Um so then I guess our la the last things is our next policy subcommittee meeting meeting is March 4th. Friends of Grafton public library meeting is March 10th. Board of Library trustees meeting is March 25th and our town meeting is May 11th and then the annual town elections are May 19th. So if there's nothing else, I'll accept a motion to close the meeting. Unfortunately, I think we need Carrie back to have quorum to have a an approved.

Oh, no. I abstain. Is that not?

Can we not just have her abstain? I don't think so. Okay. Katrina, anything else you need while you have in captive? I know now that I'm trying to think now that I got you.

Thank God. I'm gonna since we have you, what are you most excited about next month? Yeah, plug for the library.

Oh. Oh my gosh. Okay. Um there's so many things going on. Uh one thing that I I am fairly excited about um the staff and I and patrons are um going to represent Grafton in Minute Madness, which is a um statewide reading challenge. And so we're Grafton is competing against 19 or 18 other libraries uh for bragging rights and everybody is um invited to track the minutes that you read and log them on our Google form and there will be uh standings um weekly twice a week and you can come to the library or visit our social media to see where we are in the running and um hopefully we get into the initial bracket.

Is that just for the like staff or is it open to the public to log them? Everybody's welcome. Please participate. We read a lot of 30 secondond books here at my house. So, it's like, hey, those all those all add up, Rachel.

Yeah, it should be fun. I know Christine is planning a couple of um adult readaloud events uh in honor of um women's history month. So, she's going to be doing um I think an Asian women's um author event and a an African-American women's author event. Um, so I'm looking forward to seeing what those are going to be like. The children's room always has awesome stuff going on.

Well, again, really appreciate Katrina. There's there's a lot going on and I I think with that we have Carrie back so we can back everybody else stay longer. It's okay. No, no, no. It's all right. Um what I did want to mention um so when I gave my friends update um the the date of the spring egg hunt um did not come to mind but I double checked is going to be Saturday March 28th. There's going to be three hunts. One is the sensory friendly and then the the two uh regular hunts and um David Merinian is going to serve as our MC once again. He always does a wonderful job.

Wonderful. We're looking forward to it. Would you have someone reach out to uh troop 106 who uh whatever contact uh happened last year? Sure. Yeah, they um they always do a fantastic job. So, we're very friends are very appreciative. We had some awesome awesome photos of the of the scouts working with the the bunny ears on. So good. We had a freak snowstorm last year. Katrina on the common so they were picking up the eggs out of the snow. Yeah. Hope for snow this year. That's that's all the warm energy we can send.

All right. Well, with that, thank you everyone for doing the Zoom meeting. When I moved it to Zoom, it looked like we were getting one to three inches in the evening instead of this morning, but appreciate your flexibility. Um, and with that, I'm going to make a motion to close the meeting. A second. All right. All those in favor by roll call. Rachel I Aaron I Miss I Carrie I All right motion carried closing the meeting at 8:38