Board of Library Trustee minutes from meeting of Sept. 22, 2016
The meeting was called to order at 5:01 p.m. in the lower level conference room at Town Hall.
In attendance were: Trustees G. Parkinson, C. Keiger, W. Neil, R. Grady, and K. Nugent; and Library Director Marie L. Mueller. Town Solicitor Robert Gibbons was also present.
A motion to discuss the minutes of the August 18 meeting was made by R. Grady and seconded by W. Neil.
Mr. Grady said he had requested that a new measure approved at the August meeting, dealing with employee suspensions, be hand delivered to all library employees the next day.
The minutes were approved 4-1 with Grady casting the dissenting vote. Amended minutes were subsequently approved 5-0 by Ms. Parkinson, Ms. Neil, Ms. Keiger, Mr. Grady, and Ms. Nugent.
There was no public comment.
A discussion with Attorney Gibbons followed.
Gibbons said the library director already has authority to discipline employees without board involvement. He said it is in the town bylaws. Gibbons said the board oversees only the director and, possibly an assistant director if there was one.
Gibbons told the board, after questioning by Mr. Grady, that trustees cannot discuss items in library employees’ personnel files without following state law and the state open meeting law regarding executive sessions. He said trustees can read annual performance reviews, but cannot comment on them. He will look into it further to be sure.
There was a discussion about posting of the trustees’ joint meeting with the selectmen to appoint a new trustee to fill a vacancy until the June election, left by S. Franco who has resigned. The trustees meeting with selectmen must be posted 48 hours in advance.
The joint meeting is scheduled for Oct. 19. Members of both boards will each get a vote, Gibbons said.
Ms. Neil left the meeting at 5:48 p.m. for another commitment.
There was a discussion, prompted by Mr. Grady, on the sale of old books by the Friends group.
Mr. Grady left the meeting at 6:48 p.m. Because there was not a quorum of trustees at that point, the meeting was adjourned.
The next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at Town Hall because the library is not open on Mondays.
Minutes submitted by Karen Nugent, Sept. 24, 2016.