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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