Category: Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes, April 2022

Reading Public Library
Board of Trustees
Meeting Minutes – April 26, 2022
In attendance – Libbet Downs, Heather Evans, Vanessa Maxham, Tony Pikramenos, Bill Bakker.
1. Call to Order – 6:10 PM.
2. Approve minutes from last meeting – Minutes reviewed. Heather moved to approve. Bill provided second. All voted in favor.
3. Public comments – None.
4. Query for changes to agenda – No changes.
5. Secretary’s report – No report at this meeting.
6. Treasurer’s report – As of March 31, there was $8190 remaining in the budget. Bill and Tony will work together to ensure all funds are utilized to meet the library’s needs by the end of the fiscal year.
7. Librarian’s report
a. Storytime with Libbet series just concluded and was very successful. Discussions are ongoing to do another series.
b. Tony has started using the $2000 grant for the purchase of children’s books.
c. The library received an air purifier from the ARPA funds provided to the town.
d. Tony will be taking paid vacation from May 7 through May 26, returning to work on May 28.
8. Unfinished business
a. Maintenance – Vanessa continues to explore contractors to repair the cement walkway.
b. Town Grant Policy – Bill attended the Selectboard meeting in March to discuss the Town Grant Policy. The policy states “all grants must be approved by the Selectboard prior to sending an application.” He asked the Selectboard to amend the policy to exclude the library from the policy, as it runs counter to Vermont statutes for libraries, which state “[The Library Board of Trustees shall] receive, control, and manage property which shall come into the hands of the municipality by gift, purchase, devise, or bequest for the use and benefit of the library.” The Selectboard chair and Town Treasurer explained that the intent of the policy is not to require Selectboard approval before all grants are submitted, but rather to ensure that the town is aware of grant money being received, if the town is audited. Bill thanked them for the clarification and all parties agreed that the library will not need to notify the Selectboard prior to applying for any grant and the library commits to notifying the town treasurer of grant applications that have been accepted and grant funds the library will be receiving.
9. New business – None.
10. Summary of decisions
11. Items for next month
a. Maintenance and cement.
12. Adjourn – 6:55 PM.
​

Meeting Minutes, February 2022

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
February 22, 2022
Call to order: 6:08 pm
Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Janet Malcolm, Heather Evans, Libbet Downs, Vanessa Maxham. Absent: Bill Bakker.
Minutes approved from last meeting: Janet motioned, Vanessa seconded, all in favor, approved.
No changes to the current agenda.
Secretary’s report: a couple thank you notes need to go out.
Treasurer’s report: No new report, as treasurer was absent.
Librarian’s report: $6,877 in donations from 65 donations. Sophie is coming in for community service hours and is a big help. Brooke James is helping process some books. There is some nonperishable items from the food shelf on a rolling cart in the library and Brooke will keep stocked for the library. Tony is compiling a list of books to purchase with the grant money. Storytelling with Libbet starts March 15th on zoom! Library needs a new vacuum.
Unfinished Business: Maintenance – sidewalk repair- need to find someone to do this.
Grant Policy– We are continuing the conversation regarding the grant
policy, as our treasurer is absent.
New Business: No new business.
Summary of Decisions: Janet will research vacuums; Vanessa will ask Gary Macia if he knows anyone who is interested to repair our sidewalk.
Items for next month: Sidewalk, grant policy
Adjourn: 7:45 pm
Respectfully submitted by: Janet Malcolm, secretary

Meeting Minutes, January 2022

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2022
Call to order: 6:10 pm
Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Janet Malcolm, Heather Evans, Bill Baker.
Minutes approved from last meeting: Janet motioned, Heather seconded, all in favor, approved.
No changes to the current agenda.
Secretary’s report: Thank you notes up to date.
Treasurer’s report: On track with budget.
Librarian’s report: We have $6,577 in donations from the appeal letter! Tony is compiling a list of books to order with the grant money. Libbet and Tony have decided on dates for children story time: March 15, 22, 29, April 5. EC fiber question- We currently pay $1900/year for phone and internet. How much will EC Fiber cost for same or faster speed?
Unfinished Business: Maintenance – No new report.
Grant Policy– Discussed town grant policy and decided on next steps.
New Business: No new business.
Summary of Decisions: Janet will ask John about EC fiber costs.
Items for next month: EC fiber; maintenance- sidewalk repair.
Adjourn: 7:07 pm
Respectfully submitted by: Janet Malcolm, secretary.

Meeting Minutes, December 2021

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
January 4, 2022
Call to order: 6:06 pm
Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Vanessa Maxham, Janet Malcolm, Libbet Downs, Heather Evans, Bill Baker.
Minutes approved from last meeting: Janet motioned, Heather seconded, all in favor, approved.
No changes to the current agenda.
Secretary’s report: Thank you notes up to date.
Treasurer’s report: On track with budget.
Librarian’s report: Current total from appeal letter donations is $5,235. New library sign is up! Total cost is $371. Annual librarian’s report sent in. Sophie is volunteering here at the library and is loving it. Tony wrote a paragraph in the Aging in Place booklet put together by Sarah Norcross detailing what resources and the library has to offer. Libbet and Edward got married at the library! Tree lighting ceremony went great. Libbet and Tony will make a plan for story time at the library. Pre- K teacher would like to bring kids to the library for story time. Tony will be in touch with RES staff. Department of libraries gave materials for summer reading program.
Unfinished Business: none.
Maintenance: No new report.
New Business:
Grant Policy: Bill and Tony provided insight on the town’s grant policy.
Summary of Decisions: story time plans.
Items for next month: Grant policy.
Adjourn: 6:58 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by: Janet Malcolm, secretary.

Meeting Minutes, October 2021

Reading Public Library

Board Meeting Minutes

October 26, 2021

Appeal letter preparation: 6:00 pm

Call to order: 7:05 pm

Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Vanessa Maxham, Janet Malcolm, Heather Evans, Bill Baker, Libbet Downs

Minutes approved from last meeting: Janet motioned, Heather seconded, all in favor, approved.

No changes to the current agenda 

Secretary’s report: No new report

Treasurer’s report: Current budget on track

Librarian’s report: Make a plate was a success. Pumpkin carving will happen this week with the students at RES. Appeal letters have been prepared. Received a 2,000 grant to buy children’s books!

Unfinished Business:

Maintenance – Vanessa met with Steve Giroux and he quoted $325-$350 for new sign outside library

Annual Appeal- Letters are signed and ready to be mailed

Annual Budget- We are putting in a budget request to the town for $32,300. Heather motioned to approve , Libbet seconded and all approved.

New Business:

Summary of Decisions: Vanessa will follow up with Steve Giroux about the sign.  Budget request will be made to the town for $32,300.

Items for next month:

Next meeting: Tuesday November 30, 2021

Adjourn: 7:35 pm

Respectfully submitted by: Janet Malcolm, secretary

Meeting Minutes, September 2021

READING PUBLIC LIBRARY
Board of Trustees Meeting – September 28, 2021
Minutes
Attendees – Vanessa Maxham, Tony Pikramenos, Heather Evans, Bill Bakker
Not in attendance – Libbet Downs, Janet Malcolm
1. Call to order – 6:08 PM
2. Approve minutes from last meeting – Motion made, seconded, and all were in favor
3. Public comments – None
4. Query for changes to the agenda – no changes proposed
5. Secretary report – no report this month
6. Treasurer report – Library budget has about 27500 remaining for the fiscal year and the checkbook has just over 24000. All checks written at the end of FY21 were cashed within FY21
7. Librarian report
1. Make a plate event is being planned. Details still under development
regarding how to ensure public safety
2. Story time with Libbet being developed and considered for November
3. Pumpkin carving for Halloween will be done at the school in partnership
with Lisa Kaija
8. Unfinished business
1. Maintenance – Library sign. Trustees with discuss the project with various vendors to get proposals
2. ECFiber – we will discuss moving phone and internet to ECFiber in the
winter for transition in July once contract with Comcast ends
3. Annual appeal – Tony will write the letter and contact printers. Goal is to
send out the appeal letters in early November
9. New business – None this month
10. Summary of decisions
11. Items for next month – signs, annual appeal
12. Adjourn – 6:41 PM
Next Meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021

Meeting Minutes, August 2021

Reading Public Library
Board of Trustees
Meeting Agenda and Minutes
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
In attendance – Tony Pikramenos, Vanessa Maxham, Libbet Downs, Heather Evans, Bill Bakker
1. Call to order at 6:08
2. Approve minutes from last meeting – Motion made and seconded. Minutes approved
3. Public comments – None
4. Query for changes to the agenda – No changes
5. Secretary’s report – None
6. Treasurer’s report – Nothing noteworthy for this fiscal year yet. Expenses are on track as expected.
7. Librarian’s report
a. Elevator inspection has been completed and the lift has passes inspection
b. Phone and internet – We are not under contract with Consolidated Communications and can make changes to our phone service provider at any time. We are under contract with FirstLight through June, 2022.The board will discuss changes to internet service provider at a future meeting to evaluate if there are cost savings by switching to ECFiber
c. Hanging sign in the library’s yard will need to be replaced. Board members will evaluate vendors to make a new sign and discuss at a future meeting
d. Outdoor movie night with the Reading Recreation Commission was a success
e. Tony has been in contact with the school regarding a pumpkin carving program for this year. Details are still being developed
f. Make-a-Plate event is being planned. Details are still being developed, especially as it relates to COVID and proper public safety procedures
g. A second Storytime with Libbet program is being developed
8. Unfinished business
a. Maintenance – no projects currently happening
9. New business – None
10. Summary of Decisions
a. Board will contact sign vendors
b. Bill will explore the possible switch to ECFiber
11. Agenda items for next month
a. Annual appeal
12. Adjourn at 6:51
​

Meeting Minutes, July 2021

Reading Public Library

Board Meeting Minutes

July 27, 2021

Call to order: 6:08 pm

Attendance: Esther Allen, Jim Bennett, Tony Pikramenos, Vanessa Maxham, Janet Malcolm, Heather Evans, Bill Baker, Libbet Downs

 Minutes approved from last meeting: Janet motioned, Bill seconded, all in favor, approved.

No changes to the current agenda

Secretary’s report: EC fiber opportunity brought up. Internet and phone for $100 a month since EC fiber gives public organizations a discount.

Treasurer’s report: We ended the year under budget $2.66. Current budget on track

Librarian’s report: Purchased 80 new books and they are on the shelves! Libbet and Tony are going to organize another story time in September. The rec and library are planning a movie showing. Tony has been in touch with Gerry about the podcast and Tony is waiting on Gerry’s schedule. Library passes have been going out regularly. Listen Up Vermont has had a lot of interest. Several donations for little free library. Heidi Fielder and Stephen Miller donated a portable presentation lectern and a large mat.

Unfinished Business: Maintenance – Talk about new sign next meeting

New Business: Esther would like a formal letter from the library requesting the historical artifact, Minnie Fay’s library cart, to be on loan from the historical society to the Reading library.

Summary of Decisions: A formal request for a historical artifact to be on loan from the historical society will be drafted in letter form and emailed to Esther Allen. To be sent prior to the next historical society meeting August 10.

Items for next month: EC fiber- Tony will gather info regarding what we are paying now for phone and internet and what the library contract with internet provider entails

Next meeting: Tuesday August 31, 2021

Adjourn: 7:03 pm

Respectfully submitted by: Janet Malcolm, secretary

Meeting Minutes, May 2021

Reading Public Library

meeting minutes

May 25th, 2021

Call to order: 6:12pm

Virtual Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Libbet Downs, Heather Evans,

Bill Bakker Absent: library chair Vanessa Maxham

Minutes approved from last meeting; Janet motioned, Libbet seconded, all in favor.

No changes to the current agenda.

Secretary’s Report: No new report

Treasurer’s Report: treasurer reported on the status of the budget for the current fiscal year

Librarian’s Report:

Herb garden is planted and doing great!

Libbet will water herb garden while Tony is on vacation.

The CDC guidelines are quickly changing, but we are going to keep things the way they are until after our June meeting. We will reassess then.

Unfinished Business:

Maintenance: part of the library’s (hours open) sign has come loose and needs to be fixed.

New Business: No new business

Summary of Decisions: Library will continue as is

Items for next month: Library re-opening

Adjourn: 6:43pm

Next meeting: June 29th

Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm, secretary

Meeting Minutes, April 2021

Reading Public Library

 meeting minutes

April 27th, 2021

Call to order: 6:05pm

Virtual Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Libbet Downs, Heather Evans, Vanessa Maxham,

Bill Bakker Absent: library trustee Janet Malcolm

Minutes approved from last meeting; Bill motioned, Libbet seconded, all in favor.

No changes to the current agenda.

Secretary’s Report: Janet not present but she submitted information prior to the meeting that she has issued a thank you note to Jean Goldsborough for her technical assistance and to Scott Harkins for his help moving the butterfly bush out front of the library.

Treasurer’s Report: Budget is on track.

Librarian’s Report:

The seed library is going great.

The poetry stroll has been up and running-April is poetry month.

3 story-times with Libbet have taken place, with a rousing success. Libbet hopes to do more of these in July!

We are looking forward to more outdoor movies this spring/summer with a co-sponsorship from Reading Rec.

Gerry M will soon be coming to work with Tony to set up a podcasting area for constituents.

Tony is going to order plants from the Reading Greenhouse, for the herb garden this week.

Tony will be doing the pop-up computer station for folks who wish to use it outside this summer when weather permits.

The CDC guidelines have recently changed, but we are going to keep things the way they are until after our June meeting. We will reassess then.

Unfinished Business: Our neighbor removed plants from the small garden adjacent to the library-she cleaned it out to give the plants room to thrive/breathe. Heather talked about the cement walkway in front of the library needing to be fixed (again) and she mentioned it might be a good idea to ask Lisa Kaija about making a mosaic there. We will see if this can be done.

Maintenance: part of the library’s (hours open) sign has come loose and needs to be fixed.

Cyrus Harkins will begin mowing our lawn soon. Tony will talk to him to solidify plans.

New Business: Tony’s paid vacation will be from Saturday, May 29th and he will return on Saturday, June 19th.

Summary of Decisions: Tony to talk to Cyrus, Heather to speak with Lisa K.

Items for next month:

Adjourn: 6:37pm

Respectfully submitted by Vanessa Maxham, chair