HomeMy Public PortalAboutJuly 7, 2020 minutes with links Watertown Free Public Library
TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 7pm
Present: WFPL Trustees: Leanne Hammonds, Chair, Sheppard Ferguson, Vice Chair, Michael Hanlon,
Treasurer, Teddy Kokoros, Secretary, Daniel Pritchard, Emily Izzo, WFPL Director Leone Cole, WFPL
Assistant Director Caitlin Browne
Enclosures: June 7th meeting minutes, FY20 Year to Date Budget, FY 20 Hatch Financials, Letters from
Library Director Cole to Board of Trustees about Year End Transfers, about Burke Fund Report, Circulation
Policy Changes, Library Card Policy, and The Watertown Free Public Library FY21 Action Plan.
Call to Order: Leanne Hammonds called the meeting to order at 7:02pm
Secretary's Report
Minutes of June 2, 2020 Meetina_
The minutes were unanimously accepted as amended
Public Forum: No members of the public present
Red Leaf Cafe Update: No Update
Financial Report
FY20 Budget: Treasurer Hanlon reported Last week was June 30 which was the end
of the fiscal year. 93.8 percent of the total budget was used during FY20.
FY21 Budget: Treasurer Hanlon reported the overall increase of the library budget
is $108,000 from FY20. Director Cole said that state aid is still up in the air due to COVID-19. In
addition, Treasurer Hanlon thanked The Town Manager and Town Council for the increase in the
budget.
Burke Fund Report: There is currently a balance of $1,000. Trustee Pritchard asked
if these funds could be used for digital materials or other programming due to COVID-19 and
Director Cole reported yes.
HATCH Financials: The major funding is still the Community Foundation Grant which
is not currently needed due to HATCH being closed.
Raya Stern Donation: Chair Hammonds thanked
End of Year Transfers: (see enclosure packet for the transfers that were
recommended)
A motion unanimously passed to accept The Financial Report
Chair's Report: A Community Preservation Committee (CPC) meeting occurred last week, and
they have a survey going out to Watertown Residents that is closing July 9t". The Chair urged
people to take the survey. Director Cole floated the possibility of partnering with the Historic
Commission to potentially create a town archive.
Director's Report
Consideration and Action on Burke Fund Allocation: These allocations are the same percentage
as year's past.
A motion was made and unanimously passed by The Library Trustees on the Burke Fund
allocation.
Consideration and Action on Change to Circulation Policy Regarding Fines as described in the
enclosures.
The Change in the circulation policy was unanimously passed by The Board of Trustees
Consideration and Action on Change to Library Card Policv as described in the enclosure where
patrons will no longer need a library card to check out books.
The change in the library card policy was unanimously passed by The Board of Trustees.
Director Cole gave the following Phased Re-Opening Recommendations:
• Open July 22 (or no later than July 27) for browsing only
• Open 9-7 Monday through Friday (senior/high risk hours 9-10), Saturday 9-12, Closed
Sunday
• Continue curbside after opening using Thaxter St. door and moving spaces to the end
closest to the door
• No meetings (except Town Council starting in September)
• No study room use
• No in-house literacy services (online only)
• No computer use, printing, fax, or photocopier
• No reference services
• No newspapers
• Minimal programming so that focus can be on curbside, flow of materials, collection
management and collection development
• Recommend takeout only for the caf6, but have not heard back from Donald about his
thoughts on that
• Capacity at 40% in line with state guidance (20 people in children's room, 20 in teen,
and 80 people upstairs)
• Face coverings required. If patron says they have a medical condition or refuses to
wear one, they can use curbside instead
• Staff is coming back and their schedule is being staggered
• The Library will create a policy in case of a staff member testing positive for COVID-19.
• The local history room will be closed because you can not check out anything.
• Employees and Patrons will not be tested
Library Director Cole requested the use of LIG/MEG money for supplies The Library will need to reopen. The
Library will need more book bins, many sign holders, stanchions to block off the computer area, mobile
workstations for staff, walkie talkies for door monitoring, and a phone in the WSBR for curbside. The
approximate amount is $6500.
The Watertown Library Trustees unanimously passed the motion to authorize the use LIG/MEG money
(approximately $6500) for supplies The Library will need to reopen.
Old Business: None
New Business: None
Requests for Information and Responses: None
Date of next meeting: August 4t", 2020
Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 7:57