10/14/2008 BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES Minutes

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Mashpee Public Library P 0 Box 657 Mashpee MA Circulation for September 2008 was 9,887. Year to date, the total is 35,579. The monthly circulation is almost identical to September 2007 but we are still running behind on the yearly total. The summer traffic was slower than in the old location but it looks like patrons have found our new location and'are now using .the temporary facility. I will be attending the LEEDS workshop this week in Lakeville. Steve Cook, P C&Cchairman and Project Manager Rick Pomroy will accompany me. This is our opportunity to find out what requirements we must meet for the l.EEDs certification and grant funding. The pub-bids were opened on October ?1. There were 76 bidders in 12 sections of work. The combined total exceeds our budget estimates by $130,U00, , because the HVAC and Electrical bids were higher than expected. Rick Pomroy . reported that these sections include a lot ,of equipment and technical materials, and the prices for these components are charging almost daily. The sections that use more labor than materials came in lower than the estimates. Rick felt this was a plus because the final round of bids is more labor dependent than material dependent. Rick felt we. would see lower prices than estimated in these bids and would 'probably make up the overage. The general contractor bids are due October 15th (tomorrow) so will soon know if Rick's feelings are correct. The budget packets were distributed last week and submissions are due. November 7.2008. Mashpee has been fiscally conservative so we are not in as dire straits as some neighboring,communities. Mashpee had a decent amount of Free cash but many of the sources were one time events. The town also saw its bond rating jump from AA- to AA+. This should be helpful in bonding the new library. Joyce is predicting that down receipts will be lower than in pest years because the number of building permits issued has almost come to a halt. She also expects health benefit and energy costs to continue to increase. A number of initiatives are underway to try to reduce these two items. Departments are requested to submit level funded budget requests. Salary increases are to be made up by cuts to other parts of the budget and the town is implementing a hiring freeze. This is the first time that has been requested, so it will be a challenge to cover 'cost of living increases within the existing budget. Hopefully the energy costs will be lower in the smaller facility and there will be room for cuts there.