1946-05-31City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: 05/31/1946
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Thomas F. Delaney, John C. Birmingham, Louisa V. Conrad,
Lawrence E. Foster, and Robert O. Small,
Board members absent: W. Lincoln Boyden, Jr., Thomas J. Casey, William A. Rowe, and B.
Frederick Yoffa
Others present:
Recorder: Marjorie H. Stanton
Beverly, May 31, 1946
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees was held at the Library on Thursday, May
31, at 7:30 P.M., with Mrs. Conrad, Messrs. Delaney, Birmingham, Foster and Small in
attendance.
The records of the meeting of April 25 were read and approved, as was the report of the
Finance Committee giving a summary of expenditures and balances to date.
The Administration Committee reported that the three members Mr. Delaney, Mr.
Birmingham and Mr. Foster had paid a visit to the Farms Branch Library and had found it in a
very dirty and thoroughly unsatisfactory condition, both inside and out.
They talked with the janitor, Mr. Merton Bardon, and found him unwilling to put in more
than eighteen hours of work a week, this to be done at his own convenience rather than in
accordance with the rules laid down for him by the Board of Trustees.
Since the Trustees were dissatisfied with his work and his attitude, and he expressed
himself as dissatisfied with his salary of $18.00 a week, it was voted that he be asked to resign
from the position.
Mr. Delaney was asked to consult the City Solicitor, in case Mr. Bardon didn't resign, as
to what steps should be taken to discharge him.
Mr. Delaney also reported that the building at the Farms was in need of immediate and
extensive repairs; that there were many leaks which were causing plastering to fall; that the front
steps and the chimney needed pointing up; that the front door needed painting; and that the drains
in the areaways were clogged up.
And he read a detailed letter from Mr. Howard Williams, formerly Building Inspector of
the City, telling what repairs, in his opinion, were vitally necessary. - approved-
Mrs. Conrad offered to go to the Branch, with Mr. Boyden (both of them being
architects), to study conditions and to form some estimate as to the best methods of replacing the
parapet, doing away with all terra cotta trimmings, - with a general estimate of the cost.
Mr. Delaney was asked to find out the name of the firm which had made similar repairs at
the McKay School building; and Miss Stanton was asked to find out what other libraries had done
about cleaning books in the stacks, since the books at the Main Library need a thorough cleaning
after being exposed to an unusual amount of coal dust during the winter months.
The Circulation Committee recommended the purchase of 224 titles, the majority of these
being children's books. This was approved.
The Librarian's report was read and placed on file.
Voted: to adjourn
Adjourned
Marjorie H. Stanton
Secretary