Minutes
Webster Free Public Library
Trustees Meeting
Video Recorded
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
The meeting began at 4:00 p.m. Present were Cathryn Clark-Dawe, Director, Nancy Picthall-French, Chairperson, Marty Bender, Treasurer and Leslie Collins, Secretary. The meeting took place in the Meeting Hall next to the library. The meeting was video recorded and is available to watch on YouTube.
The Secretary’s report for 10/27/2021 was reviewed and accepted after the word livestreamed was changed to recorded in the last sentence in the first paragraph.
The Treasurer’s report was reviewed and accepted. Marty spoke to Wendy regarding the Mainstay money in the 2021 budget, and she will be speaking to Kyle. Nancy requested resolving this as quickly as possible and by the end of the year. Our three-year contract with TDS is expiring and Marty is renewing it for two years. Telephone services are remaining the same cost, but internet services will be increasing from $65 to $99 per month, which Marty has reflected in the 2022 Budget. While speaking with the service representative from TDS, Marty realized we should not have been paying federal taxes because we are a library. He will investigate restitution. Leslie gave Marty a $107.90 receipt for Christmas gift cards. Nancy gave Marty a receipt for $80.00 for volunteer gifts.
The Director’s Report was reviewed and accepted. Cathryn is collecting puzzle donations which can become an ongoing activity within the library or checked out.
Old Business
Marty has contacted Dig Safe and Emmett regarding the new library signs with a target day is either Friday or early next week. Nancy reported that an additional indoor Library sign will be posted as well as a handicap sign for the ramp.
Nancy inquired if there was any news from the Gardening Club and no one has heard anything.
The movie for November is The Good Traitor. Leslie will drop off waters and snacks. Marty and Nancy will be attending the movie. December’s movie will be Mixed Nuts featuring Steve Martin. Marty will purchase a new cable for the speakers.
The Sandwich Board has been delivered with three sets of letters. John Collins put the sign together. Leslie is organizing the new letters and going through all the old letters, throwing out broken ones and trying to repair the old board for repurposing.
The 2022 Budget was reviewed once again. The two lines that had increased were Income and Internet. The projected Total Budget for 2022 is lower than it was for 2021.
Our budget is due for the Select Board on December 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Nancy questioned if masks should be mandatory throughout the winter season and there was a consensus that they should be.
Cathryn reported that the cost for the NE Aquarium Pass was too expensive at $600 per year and with only a 50% price reduction on each ticket. All agreed. Nancy suggested looking into the cost of a pass at Squam Lake Science Center and Cathryn said she would. Nancy requested a list for the next meeting of all the current passes, their cost, along with the number of people who borrowed each pass.
New Business
Cathryn requested vacation time for the 26, 27 and 29 of December. There was a unanimous agreement.
Catheryn asked Marty if there was money available in Supplies, and Marty responded there was.
Leslie asked for the status of the air conditioner. Cathryn explained that it was inspected and an estimate is forthcoming. After not receiving the estimate, Cathryn sent an email and the email was bounced back.
Leslie inquired if the person borrowing the projector is required to be a patron. Everyone agreed they should be, with exception of community groups within town.
Nancy requested that we think about presentation ideas for 2022, and whether they should they be Zoom meetings or in person.
The meeting ended at 4:43 p.m. The next meeting will be held in the Meeting Hall next to the Library on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at 4:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Leslie Collins, Secretary
Summary of duties during November 2021:
*Marty will contact Wendy and inquire what recommendations Kyle has about the Mainstay money in the 2021 budget.
*Marty will investigate restitution of the federal taxes paid to TDS.
*Marty will pick out a movie for January so previews can be shown at the December (Mixed Nuts) movie.
*Marty will order a new cable for the movie speakers.
*Marty will prepare reimbursement checks to Nancy ($80.00) and Leslie ($107.90).
*Cathryn will look into the estimate for the air conditioner.
*Cathryn will explore the cost of a yearly pass for Squam Lakes Science Center.
*Cathryn will put together a summary for the next meeting of the Library’s passes, their cost, along with the number of people who borrowed each pass.
*Cathryn and Nancy will invite the public to the next Trustees Meeting on the town website and the Library’s Facebook page.
*Leslie will monitor the need for Celebration Bags at the Food pantry. Last contact was Thursday, November 18. Peg inquired if we would be open to contributing to the toiletry shelf: shampoo, bath soap, toothpaste, deodorant, shaving cream, razors, etc.
*Leslie will send the volunteers a Holiday letter of gratitude.
*Leslie will do the sign for Mixed Nuts and put it out in front of the library on December 7.
*Leslie will supply individual snacks and mini bottles of water for movie night on December 17.
*Leslie will organize the new letters for the Sandwich Board and try to repair/repurpose the old board.
*Nancy will clarify if the Select Board Budget Meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. (According to the Town website, it starts at 6:30 p.m.)
*Nancy will submit the bill for the new Sandwich Board sign.
*Nancy will welcome new residents to Webster and the Library with the welcome letter.