Board Meeting Minutes 1-17-24

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
January 9 , 2024

1. Call to order 6:12/ Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Vanessa Maxham, Bill Baker, Janet Malcolm, Heather Evans, Libbet Downs
2. Minutes approved from last meeting: Heather motions, Bill seconds, all in favor, approved
3. No changes to current agenda
4. Secretary’s Report: No new report
5. Treasurer’s Report: Budget is on track.
6. Librarian’s report: Tree lighting co-sponsored with the Rec went great despite the rain. The Night Mail podcast is continuing into the new year. The library meeting space will be utilized by the Reading Rec regularly. Also, a group of locals will be using the library space to talk about community affairs about once a month. We received generous donations for a total of $1,350.
7. Unfinished Business: Maintenance: Septic will be emptied shortly. Tony talked with David Morse about the soffit work and said he will talk to Nate about prioritizing this for the Spring.
8. New Business: We had a thoughtful review of the library’s current Operating Policy and are in unanimous agreement that the policy’s original statement on inclusivity ensures free and open access to all.
9. Summary of Decisions: None
10. Items for Next Month: Maintenance
11. Adjourn: 6:35
Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm

Meeting Minutes November 2023

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
November 28 , 2023

1. Call to order 6:10/ Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Vanessa Maxham, Bill Baker, Janet Malcolm, Heather Evans
2. Minutes approved from last meeting: Vanessa motions, Bill seconds, all in favor, approved
3. No changes to current agenda
4. Secretary’s Report: No new report
5. Treasurer’s Report: Budget is on track.
6. Librarian’s report: Jane Cleveland gave Tony a couple articles about the history of our town. November 15 the energy audit took place. Report may take up to two months.
The plates are back from make a plate day. The Christmas tree lighting with the Rec/library will be on Sunday December 10 at 6 pm. Tony is attending an informational meeting this Thursday at 2 pm with the VT Kit Club.
7. Unfinished Business: Maintenance: No new report
8. New Business: None
9. Summary of Decisions: None
10. Items for Next Month: Maintenance
11. Adjourn: 6:40
Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm

Meeting Minutes October 2023

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
November 7, 2023
1. Call to order 6:00/ Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Vanessa Maxham, Bill Baker, Libbet Downs, Janet Malcolm, Heather Evans.
2. Minutes approved from last meeting: Janet motions, Bill seconds, all in favor, approved
3. No changes to current agenda
4. Secretary’s Report: No new report
5. Treasurer’s Report: Budget is on track.
6. Librarian’s report: Tony followed up with soffit repair and is waiting for reply. Bill Neukomm scheduled the library energy audit for next Wednesday at 8 am. Astronomy club has been in touch with Tony and Rick asked if we wanted to hop on board with the club. They donated solar eclipse glasses to the library. Tony wrote a letter of support for a grant application for new telescope. Make a plate and pumpkin carving went great. Tony handed candy out from the library to the community on Halloween. The podcast continues. There is a possible book club that will start after holidays. Linking lands maps will be displayed at the school and at the library!
7. Unfinished Business: Maintenance:
8. New Business: None
9. Summary of Decisions: energy audit is coming up
10. Items for Next Month: Maintenance
11. Adjourn: 7:00 pm
Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm

September 2023 Minutes

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
September 5, 2023
1. Call to order 6:28/ Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Vanessa Maxham, Bill Baker, Libbet Downs, Janet Malcolm
2. Minutes approved from last meeting: Janet motions, Bill seconds, all in favor, approved
3. No changes to current agenda
4. Secretary’s Report: No new report
5. Treasurer’s Report: Budget is on track.
6. Librarian’s report: Outdoor movie night at the library and potluck at RES is scheduled for Saturday 9/9. Tony’s update from Bill Neukomm regarding possible MERP funds to support potential heat pump purchase: still waiting on the state. We are on a schedule for an energy audit and a date is TBD. There is an energy fair at the town hall on 9/16 from 12-3.
7. Unfinished Business: Maintenance: Vanessa will follow up with Mark Corbin regarding his generous offer for plant donation.
8. New Business: None
9. Summary of Decisions: Vanessa will follow up with Mark.
10. Items for Next Month: Maintenance
11. Adjourn: 6:50
Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm

July 2023 Minutes

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
August 1, 2023
1. Call to order 6:10/ Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Vanessa Maxham, Bill Baker, Libbet Downs, Janet Malcolm
2. Minutes approved from last meeting: Janet motions, Bill seconds, all in favor, approved
3. No changes to current agenda
4. Secretary’s Report: No new report
5. Treasurer’s Report: Budget is on track. Our budget went up $1500 this fiscal year.
6. Librarian’s report: Outdoor movie coming up 8/17 and 9/9. Tony postponed his vacation so he could have the library space available for folks who needed to use the library who were affected by the flood. He will hopefully be taking vacation in the next ten days hopefully.
7. Unfinished Business: Maintenance: Mark Corbin has contacted Vanessa about donating a tree to the library to replace the tree that fell. Vanessa motions to accept the offer for tree donation, Janet seconds, all in favor, approved
8. New Business: None
9. Summary of Decisions: Vanessa will let Mark know we are excited for the generous offer of a tree.
10. Items for Next Month: Maintenance
11. Adjourn: 7:05
Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm

June 2023 Minutes

Reading Public Library

Board Meeting Minutes

June 27, 2023

 

  1.     Call to order 6:14/ Attendance: Vanessa Maxham, Janet Malcolm, Tony Pikramenos, Bill Baker, Heather Evans, Libbet Downs
  2.     Secretary’s report: No new report
  3.     Treasurer’s Report: Budget is on track
  4.     Librarian’s report: We are at the end of the fiscal year and we got a bunch of new books in! There is a summer program with Otaquechhee Health Center-painted rocks that are placed around local spots for kids 12 and under to try and find.  There are sheets at the library with where to look and if you get 15 there is a prize if you find all 15. This goes until August 17th.  Joyce Babbit, the RES librarian, will be here on Thursday June 29th, July 6th , 20th , 27th from 4:30-5 talking with kids about summer reading. Two outdoor movies are coming up the weekend of August 18 and Sept 8. Kevin Kaija offered to cut up a down tree in front of the library. Podcasts with Tony and Gerry are continuing every two weeks!
  5.     Unfinished Business: Maintenance: Waiting on sidewalk repair until we know more about pricing of heat pumps and the energy audit.
  6.     New Business: none
  7.     Executive session: Begins at 6:50 to discuss the next fiscal year’s budget. Out of executive session 7:00.
  8.     Summary of Decisions: We’re going to celebrate birthdays with yummy treats at our meetings and we now know all of the board members’ birthdays! January 19 – Tony ; March 17 – Heather ; May 22- Bill June 11 – Janet ; July 2 -Vanessa; October 2- Libbet
  9.     Items for Next Month: maintenance
  10. Adjourn: 7:01

Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm

Meeting Minutes, April 2023

Reading Library Board of Trustees
May 1, 2023
Meeting Minutes
Present: Vanessa Maxham, Bill Bakker, Heather Evans, Libbet Downs
1. Call to Order – 6:05 PM
2. Call for changes to the agenda – None proposed
3. Public comments – None
4. Secretary’s Report – No report this month
5. Treasurers Report
a. There is $4865.97 left in the annual budget from the town
b. Bill will work with Tony to manage final annual expenses
6. Librarian’s Report – No report this month
7. Old business
a. Maintenance – No current projects need discussion at this time
b. Programs – Tony continues to produce the podcast with Gerry Marletta
8. New business – None at this time
9. Agenda items for next month – The Board of Trustees will have an executive session on next month’s agenda
10. Adjourn – 6:27 PM

Meeting Minutes, March 2023

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
March 28, 2023
1. Call to order 6:03/ Attendance: Vanessa Maxham, Janet Malcolm, Tony Pikramenos, Heather Evans, Bill Baker, Bill Neukomm
2. Minutes approved from last meeting: Janet motions, Vanessa seconds, all in favor
Public Comments : Bill Neaukomm with the Reading Energy Committee joined us to share what the next steps would be for our library to achieve increased energy resilience. The state has just announced a program called the Municipal Energy Resilience Program/Buildings and General Services (MERP). To access the available funds through this program a level II energy assessment (audit) of a building must be done.
Contractors who perform these assessments must be BPI certified and on the Efficiency Vermont approved contractor list.
The Energy Committee is happy to assist the Library in obtaining the Level II assessment of the building along with applying for the MERP.
Vanessa motions to move forward with the level 2 energy assessment ( audit) when the state establishes the regulations needed for the MERP application. Janet seconds this motion and is approved unanimously. The library board would like to do this to be most cost effective and energy resilient Tony will contact Bill Neukomm to let him know of our decision. Thank you Bill Neukomm for volunteering your time and skills to our town!
3. Secretary’s Report: Thank you notes up to date
4. Treasurer’s Report: budget is on track ; we did get the $1500 budget increase approved; our new fiscal year budget is $33,800
5. Librarian’s report: we have received $1,483 from our generous patrons! Tony confirmed with David Morse and Nate Titus that they will repair the soffit. Gerry and Tony have made two more podcasts and are enjoying providing this for our community. Fall and winter game night series have come to an end and we plan on doing three outdoor movies during the warm months. We are talking about starting a book group discussion and planning on doing make-a -plate.
6. Unfinished Business: Maintenance: Heather has a contact for sidewalk repair
7. New Business: none
8. Summary of Decisions: We will move forward with level 2 energy assessment and will let Bill Neaukomm know this. We’re going to celebrate birthdays with yummy treats at our meetings and we now know all of the board members birthdays! January 19 – Tony ;
March 17 – Heather ; May 22- Bill June 11 – Janet ; July 2 -Vanessa; October 2- Libbet
9. Items for Next Month: maintenance
10. Adjourn: 7:45
Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm

Meeting Minutes, February 2023

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
February 28, 2023
1. Call to order 6:12/ Attendance: Vanessa Maxham, Janet Malcolm, Tony Pikramenos, Heather Evans
2. Minutes approved from last meeting: Vanessa motions, Heather seconds, all in favor
3. No changes to current agenda
4. Secretary’s Report: Several thank you notes need to be sent
5. Treasurer’s Report: no new report
6. Librarian’s report: Gerry and Tony have recorded three podcasts! There is a link for the podcast on the library site. Lisa Kaija did a beautiful wood cut for the podcast name “Night Mail”.
7. Unfinished Business: Maintenance: Hoping to put some insulation in the attic but there is not enough space to put enough insulation to be cost effective. Bill Neukomm does recommend putting in two heat pumps which is large cost upfront but going forward would save money. Vanessa will email Bill Baker to ask him to coordinate with Bill Neukomm to come to the next meeting to talk about our options for energy efficiency. Heather has a lead for sidewalk repair.
8. New Business: none
9. Summary of Decisions: Vanessa will follow up with Bill. We’re going to celebrate birthdays with yummy treats at our meetings! January 19 – Tony ; March 17 – Heather ; June 11 – Janet ; July 2 -Vanessa. We’ll find out Bill and Libbet’s birthdays!
10. Items for Next Month: Hoping to have Bill Neukomm at meeting
11. Adjourn: 6:49
Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm

Meeting Minutes, November 2022

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
November 29, 2022
1. Call to order 6:11/ Attendance: Vanessa Maxham, Bill Baker, Janet Malcolm, Libbet Downs, Heather Evans, Tony Pikramenos
2. Minutes approved from last meeting: Janet motions, Bill seconds, all in favor, approved
3. No changes to current agenda
4. Secretary’s Report: No new report
5. Treasurer’s Report: budget is on track.
6. Librarian’s report: Tony and Gerry met to talk about a local podcast they are brainstorming. Amy Harkins has been coordinating a meditation and sound healing group led by Cassie on Monday nights at the library. The rec will continue to host game nights at the library on the first Friday of each month at 6:30 pm. Pumpkin carving was a success! The tree lighting co-sponsored with the rec will take place on December 4 at 6:30 pm. Library will provide snacks and the Rec will provide lights, coco and coordinate
a visit from Santa. Considering the increased cost of living we have decided to put the appeal letter on hold to best serve our patrons at this time.
7. Unfinished Business: Maintenance: Thank you to Bill who was at the weatherization day along with several others! Still looking for sidewalk repair help. Tony has two possible leads- Janet will call them. Tony also found Nate Titus and Colby Titus to repair the soffit. Tony noticed wires exposed on the well and made some plumbing calls inquiring what next steps should be.
8. New Business: none
9. Summary of Decisions: Janet to call sidewalk contacts
10. Items for Next Month: Maintenance
11. Adjourn: 6:49
Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm