DPL Board of Trustees Minutes

Meeting date: 
Monday, January 3, 2022

Davis Public Library
Monthly Trustee Board Meeting
January 3, 2022
DATE: January 3, 2021
TIME: 7 pm
TYPE OF MEETING: "Zoom" Board of Trustees Meeting
PRESENT: Don Healy – Chair, Jan McGonagle – Treasurer, Christine Haase – Secretary, Inga Dellea – Director,
Angel Nicoletti – Alternate, Debbi Kingsbury – Alternate
ABSENT: None
PUBLIC PRESENT: Martha Detore-Woods wanted to discuss the topic of the holiday schedule with the
Trustees.
1. Call to Order: Don called the meeting to order at 7:04
A. Roll Call: All present via Zoom
B. Minutes: The minutes from the Regular Board of Trustees Meeting on November 1, 2021 were
reviewed and accepted as presented.
C. Correspondence: Inga saved a copy of the Apollo bill in the Drive for Jan to pay. Don sent an email
to Audrey Blodgett at the States Attorney General in regard trust funds 11/12/21
D. Public Comment: Martha Detore-Woods spoke on the topic of holiday closure for the library staff.
Four days were given in years past, but now due to the extended open hours many holidays would
go unpaid. There are cycles where one staff member may lose multiple days due to this. These
days are already part of the Library’s planned budget. The Board came to the agreement that the
following 7 days will be paid: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the cases of Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, the
Library Director can make the decision to have reduced open hours, due to the minimal library
traffic on these days. Changed hours will be posted in advance on the website and at the library.
2. Reports
A. Financial: The financial reports were reviewed. Jan reported that we are about half way through
the fiscal year and our budget is about half spent.
B. Library Director: The Library Director’s report was presented. Inga has some ideas on how to use
the donation funds the Library has received. Inga’s main focus is making the library a more family
friendly place. Activities and toys/games to be made available at the library. Discussion followed
on finding gaps in educational activities for the community. Inga will bring her ideas back to The
Trustees after discussing her findings with Jan.
C. Review of Action Items & Directives: ▪ Jan and Inga will meet to discuss discretionary library funds due to the change in fiscal
year. This has been completed and Jan summarized in her report. ▪ Inga will contact Brian Wakeman to get a quote for scraping/painting exterior of
building. It is too late in the season, this will be brought up again in the spring.
▪ Inga will reach out the Library Association to see the legality of asking patrons about
vaccination status. The Library Association says while this is not illegal, it is not advisable
to ask vaccination status of the patrons. ▪ Don will contact Michelle Pong re extending deadline for preliminary budget. The budget was
submitted to the town and presented at the Select Board meeting. The budget was accepted
by the Select Board. ▪ Don will send NH Attorney General’s office statement from 2020 Annual Report re trust
funds. Don sent the letter to the NH Attorney General's Office and the email was
acknowledged. ▪ Don will contact Rex Rodanas to re crushed stone along perimeter to prevent back splash on
siding. Don did not contact Rex, as he is no longer working for the town on lawn
maintenance. Dean Dorman has offered to spread the crushed stone if the library purchase
the stone in the spring.
3. Old Business
A. Fire Alarm Situation - The fire alarm problem seems to be under control. It appeared to be a
low battery on the panic button causing the alarm to trigger.
B. Ooma Status - On hold until we get the fire alarm situation figured out.
C. Update on Bequest of $5,000 - The Library has not yet received these funds but they are
expected early in the year. The Library will need to send a W-9 prior to distribution.
D. Update on Staff Additions - No update in staff additions. Josh has not been able to cover many
shifts recently. Inga hopes to get him back in the rotation soon.
E. Update on Web Development/Usage - The new website is up and running.
F. FY 2021-22 Preliminary Budget - The 2021-20222 budget was presented at the Select Board
meeting and was accepted. The town offered an additional $400 for maintenance costs and to
purchase air filters for the library using COVID funds.
G. Narrative for Annual Report - Inga will draft narrative for the annual report.
4. New Business
A. Conservation Commission Request to Support the “Wilson Lands Project”. Inga reviewed her first
draft on ideas of how the library/town would benefit from the acquisition of the Wilson Land. An
updated draft will be shared at our next meeting.
B. Holiday Schedule for 2023 - This topic was moved to the beginning of the agenda during Public
Comment.
C. Inclement Weather Closing Policy/Procedure. There is a policy in the policy folder with an
emergency weather policy. If the local school is closed or it is considered as a weather emergency,
The Director has the discretion to close the library.
D. Next Meeting Date
Next Meeting Date: Monday March 7, 2022 at 7 pm.
Adjournment at: Meeting adjourned at 9:19 pm
Transcribed and Submitted by: Christine Haase, Recording Secretary
Summary list:
Motions:
● Don entertained a motion to accept the minutes from November 1, 2021 meeting as presented. Jan so
moved. Christine seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
● Don entertained a motion to have up to 7 paid holidays in the budget now the library is open more days a
week. Jan so moved. Christine seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
● Jan entertained a motion to accept the proposed preliminary budget as presented and accepted to the
town. Christine so moved. Don seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
● Don entertained a motion for the Library Board of Trustees to show their support in the acquisition of the
Wilson lands. Christine so moved. Jan seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Action Items and Directives:
● Inga will email Michelle Pong regarding the air filters the town agreed to purchase with the COVID
funding.
● Inga will look into family first/educational gaps in the items and programming the library has. Jan and Inga
will meet and discuss the gaps Inga has identified.
● Inga will draft a narrative for the annual report to send to Michelle Pong.
● All Trustees will review Inga's letter to support the Conservation Commission's purchase of the Wilson
Land.
● Angel will draft a revision to the extreme weather emergency policy.
● Don will email Geoff Jones notifying him of the Library's support on the Conservation Commission's
purchase of the Wilson Lands Project.