HomeMy Public PortalAboutMay 5 2021 Meeting Minutes with linksWatertown Free Public Library
TRUSTEES MEETING Minutes
Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 7pm
Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law,
G.L. c. 30A, §18, and the Governor's March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitations on the number of people
that may gather in one place, this public hearing of the Watertown Free Public Library Board of Trustees is
being conducted via remote participation. No in -person attendance of members of the public will be permitted,
but the public can listen to or view this meeting while in progress via Zoom meeting ID 816 4998 3747
Password 127706. Members of the public may access the meeting through this link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81649983747?pwd=Q0Y2OF1YNm93 VTAzY3ZvZm5BLz1NQT09
or by dialing in at 929 205 6099 and entering the meeting ID and password. Members of the public attending
this meeting virtually will be allowed to make comments if they wish to do so, during the portion of the hearing
designated for public comment, by audio.
AGENDA
Present: WFPL Trustees: Leanne Hammonds, Chair, Michael Hanlon, Treasurer, Teddy Kokoros,
Secretary, Daniel Pritchard, Emily Izzo, Sheppard Ferguson (Vice Chair), WFPL Director Leone Cole,
WFPL Assistant Director Caitlin Browne
Call to Order 7:03
Secretary's Report
Minutes of April 7, 2021 Meeting
• A motion was made and unanimously passed to accept the April 7th Minutes
Public Forum: No members of the public
Red Leaf Cafe Update: (Discussed in Director's report)
Financial Report
FY21 Budget: The Watertown Library has spent 78 percent of the fiscal year
budget.
Browne Fund: $2142 current balance
Burke Fund Report $230,000 current balance
Hatch Financials: No update
• A motion was made and unanimously passed to accept the financial report as read.
Bookmobile Fundraising Update (D. Pritchard, T. Kokoros)
• Raya Stern donated $5,000 and C4 Therapeutics donated $2,500.
Consideration and Action on Acceptance of Donations:
• A motion was made and unanimously passed to accept the donations as listed in the
packet.
Chair's Report
• The Town Manager recently presented the budget for FY22 and included in his requests
for new positions was the Community Outreach Librarian
• There is a budget hearing that will cover the library budget on June 3rd, and it would be
helpful if The Watertown Library Trustees attended
• A draft of the CPA 5 -year plan has been posted to the town website:
https://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31924/CPC PLAN 2021 0421
• The Charter Review Committee had a meeting last night where the role of The Town
Council and Town Council President were discussed
• The June 15th Charter Review Committee meeting will discuss other elected officials such
as the Library Trustees
• Nomination papers for the Library Trustees and other positions are available at the Town
Clerk's office
Director's Report
Consideration and Action on Cafe Vendor Bids:
• A bid was submitted from Donald Bleech. There have been past complaints
about the cafe being too loud and rowdy during the afterschool hours that
have not been addressed in the past by Mr. Bleech.
• A motion was made and unanimously passed to accept the Cafe bid from Mr.
Bleech but contingent on a side contract related to the noise level of the Cafe
and a discussion with The Trustees at the next Watertown Library Trustees
meeting.
Reopening Updates
• There currently is no update from the state with guidance for reopening
• Director Cole would like to open the Local History room for research by
appointment, open up another computer for in library use, resume regular
hours except for Sundays starting May 11, end the quarantining of books on
May 17th, make meeting rooms available but people in meeting rooms, must
be socially distant starting June 2, reinstate Sunday hours on June 11, and
on August 1 not have any restrictions aside from the possibility of indoor
masks. This would all be contingent on how the situation with COVID-19
progresses and what guidelines our given from the state.
• May 13 all staff will be fully vaccinated.
Various Updates
• The Watertown Library is having landscaping done at the front of the
building, additional shelving is being installed for the Literacy
Collection, a wall is being put up to make a study room for tutors and
students, renovations are happening in the Teen Room to remove
cubbies and add shelving, and a new solar charger is being installed in
the front of the library. The total of all these projects is about $40,000.
Old Business
Library Director Evaluation
• Trustees should send Secretary Kokoros their evaluations by the end
of this week.
• Secretary Kokoros will then compile those evaluations to create the
Watertown Free Public Libraries 2021 Director's Review Report which
will be shared with the other Trustees before the next meeting.
New Business: None
Requests for Information and Responses: None
Date of next meeting June 2, 2021
Adjournment: A motion was made and unanimously passed to adjourn the meeting at 8:08pm