Library Board of Trustees - Minutes - 05/12/2026

Waterford Public Library 
 
Board of Trustees  
13 May 2026 
 
Trustees present: M. Furey-Wagner, L. Couture, N. Dragoli, B. Kyne, J. Lehet, 
J. Merrill, G. Ritter, A. Roberge, A. Rosenberg, A. Simpson.  Also present, C. 
Johnson, Library Director. 
 
Not present: E. Boyce, C. Giordano. 
 
1.  A quorum was established and President M. Furey-Wagner called the 
meeting to order at 5:58 p.m. 
 
2.  There was no Public Comment. 
 
3.  Consent Agenda 
 
A.  Minutes for 10 March 2026, no changes. 
 
B. & C.  Treasurer’s and Financial Report - G. Ritter 
 
• The Endowment account value was down in February, back up in March, and 
up again in April.  Current market value, as of 30 April 2026, $4.3 million.  
Our Index Funds are less volitile.  With inflation our normal spending will go 
up.  Books cost more now.  Therefore, we need a $5 million endowment to 
continue. 
 
A motion was made by A. Simpson, seconded by J. Merrill to accept the 
Consent Agenda as submitted.  A vote was taken.  All in favor, none against, 
no abstentions.  
 
4.  President’s Report - M. Furey-Wagner 
• First of all, thank you to N. Dragoli, A. Simpson, and E. Boyce for their 
considerable time in collecting, organizing, and running the Jewelry Sale.  
Also, thank you to J. Lehet and A. Roberge for their help the day of.   
• Thank you to our Director, Chris for leading Great Discussions which brought 
in new people this year.  Chris has also been leading the Memory Cafe each 
week at the Senior Center.  All this with out her Assistant for a minimum of 
four weeks. 
 
5.  Executive Session - omitted 
 
6.  Committee Reports 
 
A. Finance - See above 3B and 3C. 
 

 
Waterford Public Library 
 
Board of Trustees  
13 May 2026 
B. Development and Fundraising - M. Furey-Wagner 
 
• Year to date, the current Net Fundraising is $39,393, a decrease of $7,786 
over last year at this time. 
• Net Bequests, at $2,333 is down considerably from last year as a result of 
fewer Bequests. 
• The Second Annual Jewelry Sale goal was to completely clear out all goods. 
• Sales on 2 May netted $4,738, $300 more than last year’s sale.  It is 
anticipated that an additional $3,000 will be realized from a “bulk” sale to a 
dealer for the remainder of items. 
• We will take a break for a year. 
 
C.  Facilities and HVAC project - C. Johnson 
• The HVAC project is basically complete.  Final payout will be after the rooftop 
chillers are inspected and tested. 
• It has been nice having a system that automatically flips from heat to A/C 
as needed based on the weather. 
• Shortcuts to the Automated Building System controls are to be installed on 
specific computers. 
• The property Committee met with Ken Hipsky for an update on the project 
to replace the electrical service.   
• Gary Schneider has advised that due to the cost of running the power 
conduits under Rope Ferry Road, the first power pole, adjacent to the 
library’s entrance will need to remain. 
• Wires can then be run underground along the park and cross under by the 
garage where the transformer will be installed. 
• The new outdoor and parking lot lighting plan was reviewed on 6 May. 
• Next step is for Gary to request to spend funds from the eletrical service 
project to begin this Fall.  He believes the trenching and outdoor lighting 
can be done prior to the Spring 2027 transformer installation timeline. 
• At the request of the First Selectman, Gary submitted a request to Senator 
Murphy’s office for Congressionally Directed Spending funds to support the 
roof, electric service replacement, and lower level HVAC replacement at the 
library. 
• A decision will be made in February 2027 if Congress will award this funding. 
•  DPW will continue to request funding via the Town’s three boards. 
• The LED motion sensored lighting project is 95% complete.  Staff is 
monitoring areas that are problematic with regard to automatic shutoff; 
front entrance and Children’s Room. 
 
D.  Policy and Personnel - A. Simpson 
• Revisions to the current policy continues with staff. 

 
Waterford Public Library 
 
Board of Trustees  
13 May 2026 
 
E.  Nominating - M. Furey-Wagner for C. Giordano 
• The three Trustees with terms ending this fiscal year, N. Dragoli, J. Lehet, 
and A. Simpson, have agreed to continute as Trustees.  They will be 
nominated at the Annual Meeting in July. 
 
7.  Director’s Report - C. Johnson 
• The PLA Conference took place 31 March - 3 April in Minneapolis.  I was a 
member of a three person panel that gave a presentation on Memory Cafes 
in Libraries: Creating Meaningful Connections.  An article in Public Libraries 
Online noted it for being one of the most impactful sessions. 
• Several Town budget transfer requests have been made.  Another request 
for an in-series transfer of $3,620 will be made to cover a deficit in 
Clerical/Technical line. 
• The library received its annual Community Foundation fund grants, $14,350 
was budgeted and $14,080 received, a deficit of $270. 
• The state Borrow-IT reimbursement came in under budget with a deficit of 
$878. 
• State Aid to Libraries grant of $1,382 enabled six staff members to attend 
the annual CLA conferece in Groton in April. 
• Once again, the library will be partnering with the New London Youth 
Employment program which will provide funding for our current Page’s 
wages over the summer.  It is possible we might get a second person. 
• Resubmitted the T-Mobile Hometown grant request for the meeting room 
refresh.  This is the final round of this opportunity. 
• Community Foundation of Eastern CT is providing $12,000 to partially fund 
our “Growing Readers and Ready Learners”.  This award will support an 
additional 9 hours of staff time for 40 weeks for our Youth Services PT 
Info/Ref Assistant.  This will enable the library to offer two monthly sessions 
of our very popular baby lapsit program. 
• Waterford Rotary has provided $500 for support of youth STEAM.  However, 
this may be the final grant as the club is dissolving. 
• In April Waterford participated in the statewide Passport to Libraries 
program.  All libraries reported a big jump in participation over the previous 
event in 2024. 
• In July, I will begin my fourth year on the Board of the Connecticut Library 
Consortium.  This year, I will be serving as the Chair of the organization. 
• Jill Adams is continuing her work as part of the Town’s America 
250/Waterford 225 planning committee.  A town wide kick off event is 
planned for Saturday, June 6th. 
 
8.  Old Business 

 
Waterford Public Library 
 
Board of Trustees  
13 May 2026 
A.  Directors and Officers Insurance - Acrisure was selected and a payment of 
$1,550 was issued.  This covers the Board for both suits and embezzlement. 
B.  Libraries with Heart Kits - C. Grandejean, Esq., reviewed the contract.  We 
are awaiting the American Heart Association’s approval of Cliff’s 
recommended contract changes. 
 
9.  New Business 
A.  A motion for a “reapproval of blank board permission for Town budget 
transfer requests” from the Minutes of the BOT meeting on 8 March 2022,  
with the same verbiage: “Proposal to allow the Library Director able to 
request Town budget transfers without Board approval. Director will report 
on any transfers at the following Board meeting.” was made by B. Kyne, 
seconded by A. Simpson.  A vote was taken.  All in favor, none against, no 
abstentions.  
B.  A motion to close the library on Friday July 3rd and Saturday July 4th was 
made by J. Merrill, seconded by B. Kyne.  A vote was taken.  All in favor, 
none against, no abstentions.  
C.  A motion to postpone the Annual Meeting to July 28th was made by B. 
Kyne and seconded by G. Ritter.  A vote was taken.  All in favor, none 
against, no abstentions.  
D. The Board meeting schedule for FY27 was presented. 
E.  The Director request for an additional $3,000 for the Meeting Room A/V 
Replacement was made.  A discussion ensued over the amount from the 
Endowment.  The request was tabled until the July meeting. 
F.  A motion was made by J. Merrill, seconded by M. Furey-Wagner to fund 
$1,000 for a Staff Appreciation Dinner in August.  After discussion, this was 
tabled until the July meeting. 
G. Since the demise of a major book vendor, Brodart & Ingram has struggled 
to keep up with orders.  Many items are on backorder.  The Director made 
a request to continue to spend against FY26 materials budgets as these 
items are received.  A motion was made by G. Ritter, seconded by B. Kyne, 
to encumber funds for the explicit purpose of paying for books with a 
publication date prior to July 1st. A vote was taken.  All in favor, none 
against, no abstentions.  
 
10.  Adjournment 
A motion was made by A. Rosenberg, seconded by J. Merrill to adjourn.  A 
vote was taken.  All in favor, none against, no abstentions. The meeting 
adjourned at 6:52 p.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted 20 May 2026 
 
Joy S. Merrill, Co-Secretary 

 
Waterford Public Library 
 
Board of Trustees  
13 May 2026