2/9/2010 BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES Minutes

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a ibBrl �� Pi .t_ cont..inued 0 Helene explained that there is more than moving books and putting books on the shelf. She checked with Falmouth and they were actually closed 6 weeks and had professional movers. Helene said there is a large cadre f volunteers being trained during this time. Jane Dolan pointed out that Helene had laid out a very eloquent rationale in terms of why the shut down was necessary. Wayne was given a copy of the document Helene had e-mailed to Joyce Mason on January 16, 20 1 and David requested Wayne to forward it to the Board of Selectmen. Jack Kowalski alski asked the Selectmen: Aren't you getting into management? Isn't that our job? David Burton said he, for one,appreciates the intent. This is a Town building;you are Town officials. David said this Board of Trustees approached the Board of Selectmen at their September meeting in anticipation of an article for Town Meeting warrant. He said the Trustees moved their regular, scheduled meeting to be at the BDS meeting and we asked to be heard. Not only was the Town Library Director hushed, it was the worst example of bad manners. David said on three other occasions this Board reached out to speak with our peers. David met with Don Myers to chat. David said the point is that we have been spurned, at best. He said part of our responsibilities spelled out in Mas General Law is to work cooperatively with other municipal officials. It is irksome. David said because our duties,responsibilities and obligations for all intents and purposes have been ignored or usurped,we requested to meet with Town Counsel and our request has been rejected. David said we have been rejected due process. we did meet with Patrick Costello once years ago and it was helpful. David noted that some of the Trustees have sat on this Board a long time and this Board is a good cross-section of backgrounds and experience. He said sometimes treatment has been frustrating, unprofessional,and inappropriate and noir that it is weeks away of opening,now we have some offers of help. Our group of volunteers is legion. David commented that the first week of December he and Jane Dolan met with the Town Manager and it was a positive meeting. David said they left with Joyce exploring the idea of contractors. Joyce Mason.addressed David and said it is unfortunate that the two Selectmen were dressed down. She said they were here trying to resolve an issue that's difficult for PCC,the Selectmen,and Library Trustees. She said yes,you manage your building;yes you manage your staff to the extent that they are union employees; but until that key is turned over to the Library Trustees, it is a PCC building...actually, it is the Selectmen's building. Joyce Mason, Steve Cook, Catherine Laurent and Terrie Cook exited the meeting at 6:40 p.m. Discussion continued and Wayne Taylor again reiterated the need to work together and that he wants to understand.the wceks closing ... he said his feeling is let's get it open even if it's in stages. ,lack Kowalski explained that the Trustees' concern is that the library is short-banded and if l person is out them it's a problem. Jack said we concentrate on one thing..'Ahe management of the library. Jack asked Wayne: iso you look at the numbers and compare I1 ashpee to other libraries? Now we have to train people/volunteers and coordinate a huge move and we want to open when it's ready. Lack of staffing is our number I problem David said at the last Trustees meeting we voted on the dates;we didn't do it to ruffle feathers. David said we will talk some more. Wayne explained that after hearing that the PCC made the decision regarding the $75,000 gift,he made the request that Town Counsel review whether or not we can give back the$75,000 to the Friends. Wayne said it turas out that only the B S can do it since they were given the gift to begin with. Jack Kowalski asked: why did Miss Mason pose thegive- back request to PCC if PCC had no right to make that decision? Wayne responded that under the Charter a lot of things are subject to interpretation since it 1s new. 2