Library Board of Trustees - Minutes - 09/09/2025

Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of 9 September, 2025 
 
1. President M. Furey-Wagner called the meeting to order at 5:59 p.m. 
 
Trustees present: M. Furey-Wagner, E. Boyce, L. Couture, N. Dragoli, C. Giordano, B. Kyne, G. Ritter, A. 
Robarge, A. Simpson, A. Rosenberg, J. Lehet, Not present: Joy Merrill 
Also present, C. Johnson, Director & Library Student, Ana Tresnan 
 
2. Public Comment – Ana Tresnan noted that she was attending as part of her MLIS program 
requirements. 
 
3. Consent Agenda 
 
Treasurer’s and Financial Report - G. Ritter 
● Although the market and our endowment continue to fluctuate, the library’s endowment is 
currently healthy at north of $4 million in assets and equity.  The 4% given to the library budget 
totals $160,000 for books and resources. Current assets stand at $4,058,531.11 
● More research needed  in committee to assess the purchase of  Board insurance and our liability 
in the event of “slips, trips and falls” by patrons who may look to the Board for legal resolution. 
Presently the Board is not covered by the town under their insurance policy. The committee will 
also confer with Cliff Grandjean, our legal consultant. 
 
• A motion was made by A. Robarge and seconded by C. Giordano, to accept the Minutes of 7/7/25, the 
Treasurer’s Report, and the Financial Report. 
All in favor. 
 
4. President’s Report - M. Furey-Wagner 
● Board evaluation of the library director is in the near future as well as setting new Board goals for 
the year in accordance with the strategic plan. 
 
5. Committee Reports 
 
A. Finance - G. Ritter 
● As stated above, the committee chair will schedule a meeting to discuss Board liability and 
Directors & Officers insurance options. 
 
B. Development and Fundraising - M.  Furey-Wagner 
● The committee chair will schedule a meeting to discuss annual fund drive letter and Charter 
Oak’s matching funds program.   Total fund raising efforts currently total $2698.84, indicating a 
very healthy beginning. 
 
C.  Facilities and HVAC committee  
● Server for security camera installed. While a bit loud, it is effective for screening both inside and 
outside areas and activities of the library. 

● HVAC project is on schedule (updated on 9/10 to not on schedule as the roof top units will be 
delayed in arriving until the end of October). Ken Hipsky advised that additional temporary 
heating costs for delays should be the unit manufacturer, AAON’s responsibility. That aspect of 
the project has not been confirmed by AAON. 
● Thursday, September 11, library opening will be delayed for one hour as power is shutdown to 
enable connections to the library’s main electrical panel. 
● Ongoing roof leaks exist. Two days will now be needed for crane work, to remove the old units 
and to later install the new units. After installation, there will be additional completion work for 
ductwork, plumbing & electrical connections. 
● Ken Hipsky determined that $25,000 will be needed for electrical system design. Work to begin in 
Spring 2026. 
 
D. Policy and Personnel - A. Simpson 
● By-Laws of the Waterford Public Library, Inc. have been completed and are included in tonight’s 
Board packet. 
● The CT State Library has mandated that four news policies be created to comply with the 
recently passed CT Legislature under Public Act 25-168, Sections 322 & 323. If the library does 
not comply with this mandate, we will not receive the annual library grant that funds staff 
attendance at the CT Library Association Conference. The mandated policies are:  
o collection, development and maintenance policy 
o library display and program policies 
o material review and reconsideration policy and form 
 
It is the State Library’s expectation that our completed documents will be finalized by November. Library 
staff is currently working on final policy drafts. The staff will then send it to this committee for final 
review and approval before the draft policies are sent to the State Library for review. It is anticipated 
that the full board will approve these new and updated policies at our November meeting. 
 
6. Director’s Report 
● Town Finance Board calculates library staff salaries. On May 12 the library requested to town 
Finance director additional funds totally $14,185  for unbudgeted sub hours due to maternity 
leaves and sick pay. This was approved by Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance in July. 
● Town HR director is now required to observe any full time prospective employee interviews. 
● Lauren O’Neill, our current PT adult services Ref Assistant, has been hired as FT Department/Tech 
Assistant 
● There will be a 16.5-hour position for every Monday and Friday and alternate Saturdays to fill 
Lauren’s vacant PT adult Services Info/Reference Assistant job. 
● This past summer the library was able to hire two student workers through the CT Youth 
Employment Program 
● Concerning the trustee 2026 budget: 
○ Jenna Bivona has requested we transfer $1,000 from her Children’s Books budget to her 
overdrive e- resources budget. On her wish list is a future consideration for extra staff for 

next summer to help with the busy summer programs. Over 200 youth completed this 
year’s summer reading program reading a combined total of over 200,000 minutes.. 
○ Laura Erickson worked with the vendor to reduce this year’s annual costs from the 
McNaughton book-leasing program by $7,034 by using accumulated credits through the 
efforts of Laura Erickson. These savings have been applied to other budget lines. 
● On the grant front, we received $1,500 from Eversource Energy to fund America 250 programs. 
 
 
7. New Business 
● Town Board of Finance annually questions Waterford patron use of the library. A discussion 
ensued of how best to present data that would answer these types of questions. More 
information such as the statistical chart that Chris Johnson included in this month’s packet that 
showed  Waterford’s high ranking  amidst all libraries in the state’s incoming and outgoing book 
deliveries might satisfy town officials’ queries. John Lehet offered to research and compile data 
to support our FY2027 Town budget request. 
● Connie Giordano is planning the annual dinner for some time in October. Place and time to be 
determined. 
 
A motion was made by R. Kyne and seconded by A. Simpson to adjourn. All in favor.  The meeting was 
adjourned at 7:20pm. 
 
Respectfully submitted 12 September 2025, Eileen M Boyce, Co-Secretary