Minutes of Meeting

Kent Memorial Library Commission

March 8, 2011

Lynne Cigal called the meeting to order at 7:04 P.M.

I Roll Call

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

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

Also Present: Library Director Jim McShane

II Public Participation None

III Minutes

Joe Grimard made the motion, seconded by Bruce Rietberg, to accept the minutes of the February 10 meeting with one correction: correct the spelling of Alexopoulos in the Roll Call section. The motion passed unanimously.

IV Communication None

V Director’s Report

• The Department of Correction completed refurbishing the auditorium chairs. The chairs were returned and installed on March 3.
• A plaque will be put up recognizing the contributors of the Reserve our Seat project who made the chair refinishing possible. Mel Chafetz made the motion, seconded by Bruce Rietberg, that the KMLC do something to recognize those who contributed. The motion passed and those contributors will be invited to attend a special program at the library recognizing their generosity.
• Mel Chafetz did a presentation on the new library to the Heritage Committee. The Heritage Committee voted unanimously to support the library project.
• Mel Chafetz and Jim McShane made a presentation to the Chamber of Commerce about the new library.
• Jim McShane had a budget review with the first selectman on February 17. The budget review with the Board of Finance will take place on March 21.
• John Smith let the Director know that the Chamber of Commerce will make an application to the Zak Foundation for a grant to purchase a laptop to hook up to the TV.
• The Director would like to close the library during the day on March 30 so that the staff could participate in the Public Library’s Virtual Spring Symposium. Mel made the motion, seconded by Bruce Rietberg, to close the library from 9 to 5 on March 30 for staff development. The motion passed unanimously.

VI Standing Committee

Finance

Mike Alexopoulos submitted a proposal outlining a policy for the Debit Card Account. In order to give the Commission members time to review the policy, the proposal will be discussed at the April 15 meeting.

VII Unfinished Business

Bonding for the New Library and Other Town Projects

Mel Chafetz outlined the results of discussions at recent Board of Finance meetings regarding bonding for the new library. The BOF, concerned about the financial implications of bonding on the town’s budgets, wanted a Memorandum of Understanding by the Board of Education, the Board of Selectmen, and the Board of Finance. The three groups did recognize the need for reasonable budgets in the immediate future.

VIII New Business

Bonding for the New Library and Other Town Projects

The New Library

Mel Chafetz reported that the Parks and Recreation Department, the Heritage Commission, and the Chamber of Commerce have endorsed building a new library.

A town meeting is scheduled for March 17 during which the four proposed projects would be discussed and voted upon individually. Those projects winning a majority vote at the town meeting will then go on to referendum.

The Commission members then discussed how best to communicate the need for a new library to the residents of Suffield and how to get people to attend the town meeting. Ideas ranged from writing articles in the Observer to emails to the Suffield Patch. Each KMLC member agreed to contact at least two people each about attending the town meeting.

The next regular meeting is April 12, 2011.

IX Adjournment

Joe Grimard made the motion, seconded by Claire Kawalec, to adjourn at 8:20.

Respectfully submitted,

Joyce M. Wilson

Secretary of the Commission

March 16, 2011