April2019Minutes-TrusteesBoard: Library Trustees
City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Subcommittee:
Date: Tuesday, April 23, 2019 6:00 P.M.
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Margaret Altman, Marshall Handly, Ivy Mahan, Colleen Michaels,
Kevin O'Reilly, Myron Schirer -Suter
Board members absent: Mary Behrle, Joanne Panunzio
Others present: Anna Langstaff, Allison Babin
Recorder: Allison Babin
Kevin O'Reilly presided. Allison Babin stated that the meeting was being recorded.
Myron Schirer -Suter made the motion, seconded by Ivy Mahan, to accept the minutes of the
regular meeting of March 19, 2019. Motion passed.
Public Presentation
None.
Committee Reports
Personnel: Joanne Panunzio will be sending all board members a blank copy of the annual
Director's review form. Joanne Panunzio will also be sending a revised survey to the staff to
evaluate the Director.
Administration: No report.
Finance: No report.
Long Range Planning: No report.
Report of the Library Director
1) Budget Fiscal Year 2019: Designated funds being held by City Hall are now showing as
encumbered on the budget report. Other than that, the budget is on target.
2) Budget Fiscal Year 2020: Anna Langstaff met with Mayor Cahill, Kevin Harutunian, and
Bryant Ayles on April 10 to discuss the proposed budget, including the 2.5% increase for union
employees and its impact on the full time salary line, as well as the increase in minimum wage
and its impact on the part time salary line. Anna Langstaff also reported that she advocated for a
raise for the Assistant Library Director, and held another discussion with the Mayor, Kevin, and
Bryant about the possible elimination of fines.
3) Building Issues: No major building issues to report. There have been no updates on the repairs
to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) or capstone.
4) Personnel: The employee on paternity leave has returned to work. Anna Langstaff and Allison
Babin have been meeting one -on -one with all library department heads. Lisa Ryan attended the
Digital Commonwealth Conference in Worcester on April 9 and is attending another similar
conference on April 25. She is learning a lot that will be relevant to upcoming digitization
projects of old library materials. Anna Langstaff and Lisa Ryan are working with a group in
Beverly that received a Cultural Council grant to house a digital podcast for oral histories of
Beverly.
5) Community Engagement: Colleen Michaels and Anna Langstaff attended a two hour Trustee
orientation session in Rowley. The Bookmobile will appear at Touch -a -Truck on May 19 at
Beverly High School. On April 9, Anna Langstaff attended an all day workshop on climate
change, sponsored by Mayor Cahill. The City is going to start working on its Master Plan, with
the first public meeting scheduled for May 14 at 7pm. Additional meetings, open to the public,
will be held throughout the year. Ona Ridenour is working on a suggestion form for the website.
Anna Langstaff shared the news regarding Everett City Council's move to severely limit the role
of its Trustees.
6) Programs: Allison Babin shared upcoming program highlights: At the main library, Book
Crafts on Thursday, May 16; Community Baby Shower on Saturday, May 18; the Library of
Things Open House on Sunday, May 19; and Passport Day on Saturday, June 1. At the Farms
branch, the State of Recycling with Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Municipal Assistance Coordinator Sharon Kishida on May 21, and the annual Library Lawn
Party on Saturday, June 8.
Communications
Anna Langstaff shared a letter from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
regarding the disbursement of State Aid.
Unfinished Business
None.
New Business
None.
The next meeting of the board will be Tuesday, May 30, 2019 at 6:OOPM at the Beverly Public
Library.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:48PM.