Library Board of Trustees - Minutes - 03/10/2026

Waterford Public Library 
 
Board of Trustees  
10 March 2026 
Page 1 of 4 
 
 
Trustees present: M. Furey-Wagner, E. Boyce, L. Couture, N. Dragoli, B. Kyne, J. Lehet, J. Merrill, G. 
Ritter, A. Robarge, A. Rosenberg, A. Simpson  Also present, C. Johnson, Library Director, and S. 
Driscoll, RTM Moderator. 
 
Not present: C. Giordano. 
 
1.  A quorum was established and President M. Furey-Wagner called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. 
 
2.  There was no Public Comment. 
 
3.  Correspondence from Town Clerk.  Town of Waterford Ethics Commission Advisory Opinion 
which applies to all public officials of the Town of Waterford (defined as members of Boards and 
Commissions and Town Officials whether elected or appointed, in concurrence with the Code of 
Ethics Sec. 2.50.020H). 
 
No impact at this time. 
 
4.  Consent Agenda 
 
A.  Minutes for 13 January 2026, no changes. 
 
B. & C.  Treasurer’s and Financial Report - G. Ritter 
• The Endowment account, as of 2/28/26 was $4,266,500. 
 
A motion was made by A. Rosenberg, seconded by A. Simpson to accept the Consent Agenda as 
submitted.  A vote was taken.  All in favor, none against, no abstentions.  
 
5.  President’s Report - M. Furey-Wagner 
 
• First of all, thank you to A. Rosenberg and E. Boyce for their support of C. Johnson during the WPL 
Budget Hearings before the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance.  
• The Boyce Family, in honor of Thomas Boyce, has made a substantial contribution to 
refurbishment of the Children’s Room.  Son Chris, an architect, has been instrumental in working 
out the design, decor, and furniture to give this area an updated and more workable space.  The 
1st step is furniture which will be evaluated with trial pieces in the Children’s room. 
• Once the project has been completed, there will be a dedication in honor of Thomas Boyce.  
 
6.  Executive Session - omitted 
 
7.  Committee Reports 
 

 
Waterford Public Library 
 
Board of Trustees  
10 March 2026 
Page 2 of 4 
 
A. Finance - G. Ritter 
 
• Per an e-mail from Kevin Grenham, at One Digital, the Endowment is now at $4.266,500. 
• The allocation is back to 70% Equity and 29% Bond. 
• Annual performance, 3/1/25-2/28/26 is a 14.34% increase, which includes the $151,889 
Endowment donation last year. 
• The Annual Trailing 5 years total, 3/1/21-2/28/26 is up 8%. 
• However, there will be volatility in the market until the War has ended. 
• To date 80% of the Endowment allocation has been transferred into the library’s checking 
account.  There will be one more transfer in May, the 4th & final distribution of the year. 
 
B. Development and Fundraising - M. Furey-Wagner 
 
• Year to date, the current Net Fundraising is $28,275, a 10% increase over last year at this time. 
• Net fundraising is down as a result of fewer Bequests. 
• Last year $7,000 was raised from the Jewelry Sale.  This past month an additional $700 was 
received from sale of scrap silver and gold. 
• The Second Annual Jewelry Sale will be held 2 May.  Good donations so far.  Volunteers are 
needed for the Sale.   
 
C.  Building and Grounds - C. Johnson 
 
• The HVAC project is basically complete.  It won’t be signed off until the AC component has be 
tested during cooling season.  
• The only outstanding item is a dedicated work station for staff to  adjust the thermostats. The 
exact location, with best network connection, has not been determined. 
• There was a brief power outage during the big blizzard.  When staff retuned to the building on 
Wednesday, 25 February, there was no heat.  A disconnected wire was the cause and once 
connected heating resumed. 
• Because of the melting rooftop ice and snow there have been new water stains in ceiling tiles 
outside the Activity Room.  The roof was re--patched today. 
• The roof was replaced in November 1995 with a 10 year warranty!  Since then it has been patched 
and patched. 
• The new roof is in the DPW Capital Budget to be replaced in FY2027. 
• The RTM approved $25,000 for design work for the electrical and lighting systems of the library.  
Ken Hipsky, the Town approved Engineer, is getting the project ready to go out to bid. 
• There now appear to be long lead times for switch panels and for Eversource to install the new 
transformer. 
• A meeting with Ken Hipsky and Gary Schneider, DPW, will be scheduled for next week.  Building 
and Grounds Committee and President invited. 

 
Waterford Public Library 
 
Board of Trustees  
10 March 2026 
Page 3 of 4 
 
• The planned Town-wide LED lighting upgrades project is now back on.  This should commence at 
the end of the month. 
• The new Parking Lot lighting, part of the Electrical Service Replacement project, may occur before 
the new transformer and switchgear are installed. 
 
D.  Policy and Personnel - A. Simpson 
 
• The current policy on Patron Responsibilities was approved by the Board of Trustees in May 2004. 
• The staff recommended revised Patron Responsibilities policy was presented.  A vote to be taken 
during Old Business. 
 
8.  Director’s Report - C. Johnson 
 
• A grant submission to Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT for $8,610 would support a summer 
intern and additional marketing support and program support for youth summer reading.  
Grantees will be notified in mid April. 
• USAging declined our grant request for $35,000 to fund one year of weekly Memory Cafe 
Sessions.  I plan to seek a smaller amount of funding from a local funder. 
• Our request to T-Mobile for a Hometown grant of $50,000 was denied.  There are only 25 requests 
granted across the entire United States each quarter.  But you can resubmit and I will. 
• I will be reaching out to the First Selectman and DPW to discuss a possible Congressionally 
Directed Funding request to support the installation of an ADA compliant elevator to the lower 
level and a lift up to the mezzanine.  I will investigate the Town’s match requirement based on 
the $1.12 million cost estimate. 
• Weather affected attendance at “Take your Child to the Library Day” on 7 February. However, 
100 children visited the library that day. 
• Our Eversource-funded America 250 program began on 21 January with a virtual program on the 
Boston Tea Party.  The 28 February program, in conjunction with the Waterford Historical Society, 
was a live portrayal of General Israel Putnam.  There were 62 attendees. 
• Cub Scout Pack #36 had a cake decorating fundraiser on 2 February.  Jenna Bivona and I attended.  
She served as one of the judges and the Pack raised $300 in support of Waterford Public Library! 
• I will be speaking, as part of a panel presentation, on Memory Cafes in libraries, at the Public 
Library Association Conference in Minneapolis on Friday, 3 April. 
• I have been running the weekly Memory Cafe program at Senior Services since Friday 6 February.  
There have been 8-12 attending and I have been asked to continue this program for the next 3 
months.    
 
9.  Old Business 
A.  Directors and Officers Insurance - Acrisure has been selected and payment will be issued. 

 
Waterford Public Library 
 
Board of Trustees  
10 March 2026 
Page 4 of 4 
 
B.   Revised Patron Responsibilities - A motion to accept the new 2026 Patron Responsibilities Policy, 
as recommended by the Staff, was made by B. Kyne and seconded by A. Simpson.  A vote was 
taken.  All in favor, none against, no abstentions.  
 
10.  New Business 
• The American Heart Association has made an offer to donate a couple of Blood Pressure monitor 
kits for use in the community.  These would be loaned out like other equipment. 
• A. Simpson questioned how are they calibrated?  How would they be maintained? What if they 
were lost or returned damaged?  Is there an issue of Liability? 
• C. Johnson will pursue answers. 
 
11.  Adjournment 
 
A motion was made by J. Merrill, seconded by L. Couture to adjourn.  A vote was taken.  All in favor, 
none against, no abstentions. The meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted 12 March 2026 
 
Joy S. Merrill, Co-Secretary