New leadership was established as the board elected Nick as President, NBC as Vice President and Treasurer, and Kevin as Secretary. Following these elections, Stan, a member of the Environmental Commission and president of the New Jersey Electric Vehicle Association, presented an informative session on the advantages of EVs. His experience in organizing EV shows and championing EV-friendly policies provided a foundation for the discussion on installing EV charging stations at the library. The board expressed keen interest in the proposal and engaged in a thorough inquiry into various aspects of the implementation, such as charging speeds, payment options, and the potential costs involved. Mayor Kramer contributed to the conversation, raising points about the accessibility of public charging compared to residential options and the implications for social justice.

The dialogue extended to the logistics of the installation, with board members considering the library’s existing electrical infrastructure. It was noted that the library has a 300 amp service panel with several vacant slots, which could accommodate the electrical demands of EV charging stations. Additionally, the importance of accessible parking was underscored, with the board recognizing the necessity of a driveway to facilitate patron usage.

The board scheduled a follow-up session for February 28th, where they plan to delve deeper into the specifics of installation costs and charging station parameters with expert advice from Stan.

Aside from these future-focused discussions, the board also tackled immediate concerns, such as the approval of the minutes from the December 27th meeting and the director’s report, which brought attention to the new Integrated Library System (ILS) that is proceeding six weeks ahead of schedule. The director’s report also addressed the need for a change order related to the library’s butterfly garden roof. The board scrutinized the adult and youth program statistics and the progress of the ongoing winter reading challenge, highlighting the library’s active engagement with its patrons.

The president’s report brought to light the legal requirements concerning library building ownership in New Jersey, which state that townships should hold this ownership rather than the libraries themselves. The board discussed the intention to transfer ownership of the Franklin Park building to Franklin Township, pending the resolution of any outstanding issues with the contractor. The board resolved to request that the Township attorney prepare the necessary documentation to facilitate this transfer.

Under old business, the board reaffirmed their interest in the EV charging stations by inviting a specific expert back for the February meeting to continue the conversation. In terms of new business, the gallery roof replacement was a significant item on the agenda, including the integration of the butterfly garden roof within the scope of the project. After a careful examination of the project and cost breakdown, the board passed a motion to proceed with the roofing project, which amounted to a total of $1,867,794.

The meeting concluded with the announcement of the next meeting date, hinting at an extended session to accommodate a guest speaker, and a unanimous vote to adjourn.