The committee delved into budgetary concerns, highlighting the limited flexibility in salary expenditures, notably for the children’s room assistant. A decision was reached not to hold a staff meeting this year, citing constraints around holiday pay and potential staff emergencies. The budget discussion underscored that staff typically do not work on holidays but are compensated as per their contracts, raising concerns about the financial strain of paying staff for meeting attendance.

Energy expenses also came under scrutiny, with the October energy bill indicating a spending figure of 177%, which was seen as favorable. The comparison of energy usage between fiscal years 2022 and 2024 showed a slight increase, with $2,921 spent in FY 2024 compared to $2,863 in FY 2022. The committee expressed hope for continued favorable trends into the winter months.

A significant issue emerged regarding the telephone bill, where inconsistencies in billing for shared lines between departments led to certain departments overpaying due to irregular fax machine usage. To rectify this, an equitable division of costs among all departments was proposed, facilitating better future budgeting. The committee stressed the importance of closely monitoring this line item, having already spent a substantial part of the budget halfway through the fiscal year.

The materials budget was also discussed, with particular attention to Hoopla, a digital media service. The committee noted an increase in borrowing activity, with 431 transactions reported last month, costing over $11,000 and funded by state aid. With 70% of these transactions being audiobooks, the committee decided to allocate additional funds to this line item in the upcoming fiscal period to meet the growing demand.

Old business addressed the recently completed renovations to the library’s portico, a project that exceeded its timeline but was ultimately praised for its quality. The completion of the project involved a $3,200 invoice from J Ro Brothers, previously approved for up to $4,000 from the stock kit fund. The committee also discussed ongoing electrical installation work, with efforts being made to coordinate with Old Colony for assistance.

Discussions turned to the flower bed project, with the committee seeking alternative options for transportation of stepping stones from New Beed. The Boy Scouts, specifically Troop 11, were anticipated to assist with cleanup efforts, sponsored by the Friends group. The committee considered establishing a maintenance schedule involving the Boy Scouts for the busy months from May through September.

Concerns were raised regarding the feasibility of increasing attendance at flower bed project-related programs by 15%, given historical attendance figures. The committee recognized that the current action plan, due on December 1st, was based on an outdated strategic plan from 2016 or 2017, necessitating future revisions.

The meeting transitioned to strategic planning, with emphasis on community involvement. The committee discussed the need for volunteers and the importance of updated plans for grant applications, which are important for securing funding. The new strategic plan is due by October 1st of the following year, with the planning process involving three meetings expected over the next year. The committee was encouraged to identify community members who could serve as facilitators or stakeholders, emphasizing the collaborative nature of strategic planning.

The director’s report was presented, highlighting cultural grant submissions to multiple towns, including Acushnet, Dartmouth, and New Bedford, with optimism expressed for the summer concert series initiative. Additionally, the director planned to attend a master plan meeting with the town planner and reported progress on the fiscal year 2026 budget, despite uncertainties surrounding the tech staff union contract, which is set to expire.

Building maintenance tasks were outlined, with plans for a walkthrough to prioritize necessary repairs, such as loose posts and door adjustments. The director expressed concern over the condition of the sign out front, noting it was not properly cemented and had developed cracks, emphasizing the need for prompt attention to avoid future liability issues.