Minutes of Meeting

Kent Memorial Library Commission

May 10, 2011

President Cigal called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.

I Roll Call

Present: M. Alexopoulos, L. Cigal, M. Chafetz, M.P. Coatti, J. Grimard, C. Kawalec, B. Rietberg, and B. White.

Absent: D. Battle, J. Lobo, C. Rago and J. Wilson.

Also Present: Library Director Jim McShane, Associate Director Kim Lord, and First Selectman Tom Frenaye

II Public Participation None

III Minutes

· The motion to approve the minutes passed unanimously.

IV Communication

· A note from Peggy MacKinnon thanked the Library Commission for its donation to the Library Foundation in Dan MacKinnon’s memory.

· An e-mail from California praised Dan’s son who is a police chief, and included donations to the Library Foundation in Dan MacKinnon’s memory.

· Jim McShane received notification that KML had been awarded the $4000 grant from the Zak Foundation for a display case.

V Director’s Report

· Jim asked Tom Frenaye to speak about plans for repairing the library roof. The town has a state grant for $200,000 and there is additional town money in the proposed budget. It is possible that the repairs can be completed this summer.

· Jim expressed a desire to establish a building committee to explore interior changes to the library in order to better serve our patrons. Ms. Cigal, Mr. White, and Ms. Coatti volunteered to serve on the committee.

VI Standing Committees There were no reports.

VII Unfinished Business

· Ms. Coatti made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rietberg to have a special Library Commission meeting before our next regular meeting, in order to discuss the results of the town budget and possible library repairs. The motion passed unanimously

· Future of the Library: There was general discussion about some unfortunate incidents that took place on Referendum Day. There was discussion about the possible roof construction work and its affect on library operations and the September book sale.

· Mr. Grimard left the meeting at 8:30

· Ms. Coatti made a motion, seconded by Ms. Kawalec to re-activate the motion tabled last week. That motion was to approve the $4000 grant request made by Bill Sullivan of $4,000 from the Zak Foundation for a display case for archival material. The motion passed 5-0-1 with Mr. Rietberg abstaining.

· The original motion from last month was then passed unanimously.

VIII New Business

· Suffield on the Green will be held the weekend of September 10-11. The committee to plan the Commission’s booth(s) will be assisted by volunteers Mr. Rietberg and Ms. Kawalec.

· Ms. Coatti made a motion, seconded by Ms. Kawalec to approve the expenditure of up to $1000 from library endowment funds for costs associated with Suffield-on-the-green. The motion passed unanimously.

IX Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Bob White (acting Secretary)

May 11, 2011