HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Trustees 11/03/2021MANSFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY
Board of Trustees Meeting - November 3, 2021
Attendance: Nancy Breef-Pilz, Marianne Mackie, Jeri Hill, Jean Mallon, Leonard Epstein
and Director Catherine Coyne.
Secretary's report. The report for October was reviewed and unanimously approved as
amended.
Treasurer's report. The report for October was reviewed and unanimously approved.
Correspondence. None.
Librarians reports. The librarians' reports were reviewed and highlights discussed.
Catherine reported that overall library operations are going well, noting the increase of activities in
the children's room. Spice Club. This is proving very popular, the hope being we don't run out of
spices. Catherine discussed the current training program which will be a total of five days over
time. There have been two parts of the training so far. Home deliveries. As anticipated, the staff is
covered for liability and workers' compensation. Catherine intends to pursue this more in January
or February when she returns from sick leave for knee surgery after Thanksgiving. (She will be
returning to the library after having her right knee replaced, then be absent again for her left knee
after the right has healed sufficiently. Children's report. Zeb has asked whether his report was too
long with the response emphatically negative.
OLD BUSINESS
Assistant Director. The board returned to the issue of Whitney's status and Catherine's
recommendation that she be made Assistant Director. Discussion focused on issues of
compensation, including especially the period when Whitney will serve as Acting Director during
Catherine's upcoming medical leave. Catherine proposed that Whitney be officially promoted to
Assistant Director effective July 1, 2022 with a $3/hour stipend added to her compensation, with
that stipend accruing to her retirement benefits. (Whitney is presently paid $28.47/hour.)
After extensive discussion it was moved, seconded, and unanimously approved to offer
Whitney the position of Assistant Director during Catherine's medical leave at an increase of $8.00
per hour. Nancy will prepare an appropriate offer letter.
Cost of living_ adjustment The cost of an across the board COLA for all employees was
questioned - $6,769 according to Catherine. (It was noted that Social Security benefits will increase
by 5.9% in January.)
FY2023 budget. After discussion, the board unanimously approved the preliminary budget
which Catherine will present Friday, November 5.
NEW BUSINESS
December holidays. Thanksgiving: the library will close at 5:00 p.m. on November 24 and
re -open on Friday, November 26. Christmas and New Year: in addition to the holidays themselves
(both of which are on Saturday this year), the library will close Christmas eve and New Year's eve.
Staff unpaid leave— Kim Semedo. After discussion, the board voted unanimously to grant
Kim's request for six weeks of unpaid leave commencing November 1 to care for her daughter who
is undergoing extensive medical treatments.
Next meeting. December 15, 2021, 5:00 p.m. Whitney will attend. The meeting was
adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
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The foregoing minutes were approved at the December 15, 2021 meeting of the Mansfield
Board of Library Trustees.
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