Category: Meeting Minutes

Reading Public Library

Board Meeting Minutes

May 27, 2025

1. Call to order 6:02/ Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Heather Evans, Bill Baker, Janet Malcolm, Libbet Downs
2. Minutes approved from last meeting: Janet motions, Heather seconds, all in favor, approved
3. No changes to current agenda
4. Secretary’s Report: Thank you notes up to date
5. Treasurer’s Report:  Budget is on track.
6. Librarian’s report: Received update from Brian Cali- Brian has received proposal from structural engineer and architect to create plans to allow us to get bids for attic sealing and insulation. Another $100 generous donation received in response to appeal letter. Bill Springer is keeping our property beautifully maintained. Thank you Heather for trimming our butterfly bush. On June 5^th there is a daylong gathering hosted by the Preservation Trust of VT and they will be using the library space for part of the time.  $89 savings on electric bill which is the highest savings yet. Tony was able to obtain a Montshire day pass for each child from Pre-K – 6^th grade who are  Reading residents.  Thank you Tony! This week is the last day of this school year where the 1^st and 2^nd graders will visit the library for story time with Tony and popcorn. The Future of Reading group will meet at library in June. The podcast continues. Planning on 2-3 summer outdoor movie nights with the Reading Rec this summer. Tony will be on vacation July 8^th-26^th.
7. Unfinished Business:

• Bill motions to accept a tree donation from Jane Cleveland to the library in honor of Dick Salter and his wife. Libbet seconds, all in favor, approved. Thank you Jane!
• Bill motions Vanessa Maxham will no longer be listed on the library account checkbook as she stepped down from the board and Heather Evans and Janet Malcolm will be added to the checkbook account. Janet seconds, all in favor, approved.
• Maintenance- Garret is willing to cover the soffit hole at some point.

1. New Business: No new business
2. Summary of Decisions: Tree donation accepted; New names on library checkbook account.
3. Items and Date for Next Meeting: Ask Brian Cali about sidewalk. June 24^th 2025
4. Libbet motions to adjourn at 7:23, Janet seconds, all in favor, approved.

Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm

Reading Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting
MINUTES
Tuesday April 1, 2025
1. Call to Order / Roll call
a. Meeting started at 6:05 PM
b. Heather Evans, Libbet Downs, Bill Bakker and Tony Pikramenos in attendance
2. Approve Minutes from Last Meeting
a. Motion by Heather, second by Libbet, minutes approved
3. Public Comments
a. No members of public present
4. Query for Changes to Agenda Items
a. No changes proposed
5. Secretary’s Report
a. No report at this meeting
6. Treasurer’s Report
a. As we enter the third quarter, the Treasurer and Librarian will meet to discuss the
end of the fiscal year and remaining budget
7. Librarian’s Report
a. Donations from annual appeal are up to $6880.00
b. A poetry reading event will be taking place on Saturday, April 5
c. A poetry stroll around the village is being planned
d. Seed library is almost ready for this year
e. Reading elementary students in grades 1 and 2 continue to come to the library
every other week
f. A new microphone was purchased for the podcast
g. Electric bill showed a savings of $69 this month from the solar array
h. The podcast will be featured in an article in an upcoming issue of Woodstock
Magazine
8. Unfinished Business
a. Maintenance
i. The board continues to look for someone to repair the soffit
b. Library Board Election of officers – Board elected the following for the next year
1. Chair – Bill Bakker
2. Secretary – Janet Malcolm
3. Treasurer – Bill Bakker
9. New Business
a. CD renewal – The Board voted to renew the CD with Mascoma as recommended
by the town
10. Next meeting will be April 29 at 6PM
Regular meeting adjourned at 6:57
Executive session started at 6:59 and concluded at 7:14

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
October 29, 2024

1. Call to order 6:03/ 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. Budget request is needed towards the end of November. Heather motions to level fund the budget for the next fiscal year, Janet seconds, all in favor.
6. Librarian’s report: Appeal letter went out. Poetry reading on October 5 th was wonderful and had a great turnout. Kids and adults shared poems. Thank you Brook James and Lisa Kaija for helping run this beautiful program! Pumpkin carving is Thursday October 31st. Tony and Lisa Kaija will help the Pre-k at RES with painting pumpkins and the K-2
will come to the library to carve. K-2 has been to the library twice for reading time with Tony.
7. Unfinished Business: Maintenance: No update on MERP grant at this time.
8. New Business: No new business
9. Summary of Decisions: Level fund the budget. We will have one meeting during the holiday season on December 3.
10. Items for Next Month: Maintenance
11. Adjourn: Next meeting December 3,2024.
Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
September 3, 2024
Call to order: 6:05pm
Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Vanessa Maxham, Heather Evans, Bill Bakker, Libbet Downs. Janet was unable to attend.
Minutes approved from last meeting: Heather motioned, Bill seconded, all in favor, approved.
No changes to the current agenda.
Secretary’s report: none
Treasurer’s report: nothing of note
Librarian’s report: Outdoor movie night (Despicable Me I) took place on Sept 1. It was well attended once again, about 45 people!
The seed library is winding down for the season. The local snowmobile/atv club continues to meet at the library. During the Fall Festival (October 5th) there will be a poetry reading at the library at 2pm, and baked goods will be available. The Night Train Podcast continues.
Make-a-Plate will be happening again in October! Pumpkin carving with the kids from the elementary school is coming up! Thank you to Mr. Barbour for once again growing the pumpkins at
the community garden. Bill Springer maintained the lawn again this summer and we are very thankful.
Unfinished Business:
Maintenance-The architectural engineer came out on August 1 regarding the ongoing energy audit.
We are now waiting on a report.
New Business: none
Summary of Decisions: none
Items for next month: nothing notable
Next meeting: Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Adjourn: 7:10 pm

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
July 30, 2024

1. Call to order 6:01/ Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Vanessa Maxham, Bill Baker, Janet Malcolm, Heather Evans, Bill Neukomm
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: Movie night was wonderful and there was a large turnout- about 45 people. Another movie scheduled for August!
7. Unfinished Business: Maintenance: Bill Neukomm spoke about the option to have an architectural engineer who is available on 8/1/24 to evaluate the weight load that the upstairs can handle for insulation. According to our energy audit, this will have the biggest impact in making the library more energy efficient. Janet motions to approve the weight bearing assessment, not to exceed $3000. Bill seconds the motion. Three in favor
and one abstained.
8. New Business: No new business
9. Summary of Decisions: Architectural engineer will come 8/1/24 for the assessment.
10. Items for Next Month: Maintenance
11. Adjourn: 7:07
Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
February 27, 2024
1. Call to order 6:00/ Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Vanessa Maxham, Bill Baker, Janet Malcolm, Heather Evans, Libbet Downs, Bill Neukomm
2. Minutes approved from last meeting: Janet motions, Bill seconds, all in favor, approved
3. Public comment: Bill Neukom spoke about the SESM grant application to the state. The energy committee will submit this grant application for the heat pumps which will cover 80% of the total cost and the library would cover the remaining 20%. The library board is excited for this plan as the energy committee is hard at work to help the library building become more energy efficient.
4. No changes to current agenda
5. Secretary’s Report: No new report
6. Treasurer’s Report: Budget is on track.
7. Librarian’s report: Tony has made some purchases that students, homeschooled and public school, can check out to use as resources! Application in process to Vermont kit club. Tony worked together with the Weathersfield library on a grant application for AAS solar eclipse task force- 152 entries and 35 were given the grant and we received the only one in Vermont! This entails nearly $5,000 to purchase a telescope and accessories! Application for eclipse kits from ECHO museum for the school. Tony is also applying with Fiber Connect for a grant.
8. Unfinished Business: Maintenance: No new report
9. New Business: No new business
10. Summary of Decisions: All in agreement for Bill and the energy committee to proceed with grant application.
11. Items for Next Month: Maintenance
12. Adjourn: 7:07
Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm

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