Minutes

Meeting date: 
Thursday, April 22, 2021

Webster Free Public Library

Trustees Meeting by Zoom

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Public Portion of the Trustee Notes

 

           The Zoom meeting began at 3:07 p.m.  Present were Cathryn Clark-Dawe, Director, Nancy Picthall-French, Chairperson, Marty Bender, Treasurer, Leslie Collins, Secretary, and Dot Bourque from the Historical Society.  The Zoom meeting took place on the Library’s Zoom link.

            Dot Bourque reported that the Historical Society had 27 oral histories from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s on their website.  Dot has digitalized the original cassette tapes and put them into an archive.  Once it is safe to meet again, Dot is hoping that the Historical Society and Library might jointly put a program together to hear the recordings and inspire the current older generation to record their own memories.  It was a unanimous decision to pursue this once it is safe to do so.  Meanwhile, if there is interest, the Oral Histories are available to listen to on the Historical Society’s website, right hand side, under Pages.  In the bulleted list, click on the Webster Digital Archive linkWhen the link opens, Oral Histories are listed in Artifacts.

The Secretary’s report for 3/25/2021 was reviewed and accepted.

The Treasurer’s report was reviewed and accepted.  

The Director’s report was reviewed and accepted.

Old Business 

          Marty will go to the bank and facilitate getting Cathryn a credit card.                                 

            Marty contacted Emmett about the placement and installation of two Library signs.  Emmett recommended the following course of action:  Deciding on and staking the two locations where the signage is to be placed.  Contact Dig Safe to check the safety of the two locations.  Consult Wendy Pinkham on purchasing the signs and posts.  Once these steps are completed, Emmett will contact Marty’s contact from DOT.  Nancy thanked Marty for all his efforts.

            Marty met with the new auditors several times.  The audit is complete.

            Nancy inquired how the Trustees could help at the Library with discarding books, shelving, etc.  She asked Cathryn to develop a list of things we could do to help by the Trustee meeting in May.  The Trustees will tackle the list while the library is closed.  Cathryn agreed it would be helpful if the Trustees could finalize the check-in process for the quarantined books and shelve them.  She said it would be ideal any time after 4 p.m. on Saturdays.   

            Nancy asked when reopening the library with volunteers should occur.  Cathryn felt that the volunteers should not return until the quarantine on library materials is lifted.  Cathryn agreed to contact the volunteers when it was time and to inquire if they are still available.  Cathryn suggested revisiting this at the May meeting.

            Nancy inquired if we were interested in participating in a joint plant swap with Pillsbury Lake on May 22.  Cathryn suggested that June might be better for a plant swap because more plants would be available.  Nancy volunteered to get in touch and find out details with the contact person from Pillsbury Lake.  Marty will contact his friend who is a Master Gardener and find out if there is any interest in answering questions at the plant swap.

New Business

Leslie inquired how many Baby Bags we had and Cathryn responded that she thought there were two remaining.  Leslie contacted Peg Foss from the Food Pantry and they have enough Celebration Bags.  Leslie has cleaned the front garden and fertilized it.

Marty will pick up some bags of mulch for the front gardens.  He offered donations of parsley and thyme.

            Nancy inquired if we were ready to meet in person for the meeting in May.  Leslie requested that we keep the Zoom meeting in place for May and revisit this in May for the June meeting.

 

At 3:57 p.m., Nancy made the motion to go into nonpublic session.  Marty seconded it, a roll call vote was taken and all were in favor.  The minutes of the nonpublic session were recorded separately and will be distributed to Cathryn and each of the Trustees.

 

At 4:06 p.m., Nancy made the motion to seal the nonpublic meeting notes.  Marty seconded it and all were in favor of sealing the nonpublic meeting notes.  At 4:07 p.m., Nancy made the motion that the nonpublic meeting go back to a public meeting.  Marty seconded it and all were in favor.  

 

The Zoom Meeting ended at 4:09 p.m.  The next Zoom Meeting will be May 27 at 3:00 p.m. 

           

Respectfully submitted,

Leslie Collins, Secretary

 

Summary of duties during May 2021:

*The Trustees and Cathryn will pick a date to meet and discuss the placement of two Library signs, followed by placing two stakes on the desired locations.

*Marty will contact Dig Safe and secure a date for them to check the locations for two library signs.  He will consult with Wendy about purchasing materials.  He will reconnect with Emmett so Emmett can then contact the DOT.

*Marty will contact the bank and facilitate getting a Library credit card for Cathryn.

*Marty will pick up some bags of mulch for the front gardens.  He will contact Leslie when he drops off the parsley and thyme donations.

* Marty will contact his friend, who is a Master Gardener, and find out if there is any interest in answering questions at the plant swap.

*Cathryn will generate a list of duties the trustees can perform for the May meeting.

*Cathryn will set up the next Zoom Meeting for May 27 @ 3 p.m. and send us the link.

*Cathryn and Nancy will invite the public to the Trustee Zoom Meeting in May on the town website and the Library’s Facebook page.  Anyone interested in attending will contact Cathryn and she will send the Zoom link via email.  Cathryn and Nancy will keep the public informed of ongoing communication in the Grapevine, Concord Monitor and the Merrimack Valley Voice.

*Leslie will monitor the need for Celebration Bags at the Food pantry. (Last contact was 4-22-21)

*Leslie will monitor the front gardens.

*Nancy will investigate the possibility of joining the plant swap at Pillsbury Lake.

*Nancy will be on call for cleaning services.

*Nancy will welcome new residents to Webster and the Library with the revised welcome letter.

 

All the decisions made take into consideration the health and safety of the staff/patrons and are subject to change.  The Trustees and Director are meeting monthly and are making informed, cautious decisions.