Baker Free Library
Board of Trustees Meeting
 January 10, 2006
 Approved Minutes

Present:  Eric Anderson, Tom Ives, Susan Hatem, Colleen Haggerty and Linda Kling, Library Director.  Absent:  Elizabeth Foy

  1. Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order at 6:35 pm.
  2. Review/Approve Trustee Minutes:  Tom moved to accept the minutes of December 13, 2006.  Colleen seconded the motion.  Susan asked to insert in Section 6.b. “in accordance with the personnel manual” between “years” and “Linda”. The motion passed with that change.
  3. Treasurer’s Report: 
    1. Tom presented the monthly budget report as of 12/31/06 which shows 44.95% expended at 50% of the year. Susan moved to accept the report.  Colleen seconded the motion and it passed. 
    2. Tom presented the Special Expenditures Accounts report noting that $1,045 from sale of duplicate books has been added to the Nonprofit NOW account.  Additional monies in the amount of $135 will be added. Colleen moved to accept the report, Susan seconded it and the motion passed.
  4. Director’s Report:
    1. Short Term Staffing:  Two employees are out for medical reasons.  Linda has a patchwork of people covering their hours.
    2. Magnification Reading Equipment Selection/Funding Update:  Donations continue to come into the collection tin at the circulation desk. Approximately $150 more has come in since the December meeting.  People are very supportive and the plan is to fund the purchase entirely through donations.
    3. Water testing: Eric attended a meeting of the Bow water group where it was suggested that the library well cap be covered.  Linda reported it has already been done.
    4. Interior Building Painting Project:  Tuxedo completed painting the interior on Monday.  Linda reported that Larry and crew were wonderful and she has heard many positive comments.
    5. Annual Audit – no report yet
    6. Light Above Front Door is out. 
    7. Antique Book Bids – Liz Foy submitted the only bid, $35 for a single volume. The genealogy set that did not sell will be kept in the Baker Collection.
  1. Old Business:
  2. New Business: 
    1. BFL FY-2008 Budget Proposal:  Linda, Tom and Liz met earlier in the week to develop the proposal.  The board reviewed the proposal and took the following actions.

                                                               i.      Tom moved that the board recommend the salaries and benefits portion of budget as presented in the amount of $276,414, a 12.8% increase over FY 07. Colleen seconded the motion.  After discussion about moving one employee from senior circulation assistant at Step 3 to Library Assistant at Step 1 to better reflect her actual job, the motion passed.

                                                             ii.      Tom moved and Susan seconded that the board recommend the non-salary total as proposed.  After discussion, the board recommended reducing the request for fuel oil from $12,000 to $11,000 and reducing the request for electricity from $12,687 to $12,375.  The board also recommended reducing special programs to$3,500 and building maintenance to $15,500. Linda corrected the new equipment line to $2,500 rather than $6,800.  [She later noted that the additional $4,300 was based on a quote to replace the worn circulation desk surface with granite.  The board asked her to obtain estimates using other materials as well as inquire about the possibility of a donation.] With the recommended reductions, the board voted to recommend a non-salary total of $125,301, an 8.4% over FY 07.

                                                            iii.      Tom moved that the board propose a total budget of $401,715, representing an increase of 11.4% over FY 07.  Linda noted that the estimated revenue of $2,074 should be subtracted to obtain the net amount to be raised by taxation, the number we provide to the Town Finance Director.  Tom moved to recommend that the Town adopt a budget for BFL in a net amount to be raised by taxation of $399,641.  Colleen seconded the motion and it passed.  Eric noted that the board cut $8,936 from the $408,577 proposed budget.

                                                           iv.      CIP for computers – FY 2008 is the original target year for upgrading the computers.  Linda proposed asking for another $4,400 to be added to the CIP fund for upgrade of computerization but not expending it in FY08.  Susan moved to request an additional $4,400 for upgrading the computer system by warrant article, Colleen seconded the motion and it passed.  The board will not request to expend the CIP money this year.

b. 2006 Town Report for CY 2006.  Linda will draft the director’s portion of the report and Susan will draft the trustees’ portion.  Eric will provide photos.

  1. Correspondence –Linda received a thank you note from Deb Bornstein on behalf of Concord Hospital Volunteers for the donation of large-print books.  She also received a letter from BHS student Marcus DeVasto whose senior project is to replace the sign at the Municipal Building.  He is seeking donations to cover the cost.
  1. Trustee Meeting Dates: 
    1. BFL budget presentation to the Board of Selectmen will be on February 3 at 10:45 am at the Municipal Building.
    2. Regular monthly trustee meetings will be held at 6:30 pm on the following dates: Thursday, February 15, 2007

      Wednesday, March 14, 2007

      Wednesday, April 11, 2007

9.  Adjournment:  Tom moved to adjourn the meeting, Colleen seconded and the meeting was adjourned at 9:02 pm.

Susan M. Hatem

Secretary