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Library director reports capital budget approvals; board weighs part-time staff raises
Summary
The board was told the library's capital requests were approved for items including ADA door hardware, an EV van and newspaper digitization; members discussed proposed raises for part-time staff contingent on fiscal-year budget approval.
The Norwalk Public Library board heard a budget update Feb. 13 showing the library's capital requests were approved and discussed a proposal to raise part-time staff wages that depends on next fiscal-year operating budget approval.
The library director reported that the city approved the library's capital requests, including ADA-compliant door hardware for the main library, a library van (noted as an EV van in supplemental materials), continued funding for the Norwalk newspaper digitization project and laptop vending machines. The director displayed photos of recently completed sliding doors at the main entrance and said the capital project work had been finished except for some finishing above the doors. Staff said some machine updates (for vending/laptop equipment) occur every five to six years and the department is considering adding map resources to the vending machines.
On the operating side, the director said she had not seen final operating budget cuts online but that, according to city finance staff, nothing had been cut yet. She advised the board that capital approvals still must pass procedural steps (documentation to planning and zoning, transmission to the mayor and possible public hearings) and that the board should be prepared to support items at upcoming hearings.
Separately, the director presented proposed wage changes for part-time staff — noting that many part-time roles had not had raises since 2012. Current wages cited in the discussion: - Part-time shelvers: current minimum wage listed as $16.35 (these positions are paid at the minimum). - Part-time custodians and part-time clerks: $17.00 per hour. - Part-time library assistants: $19.00 per hour. - Part-time librarians: $26.29 per hour.
Two compensation proposals were discussed: - Recommended (regional-market) proposal: custodians/clerks to $20; library assistants to $23; part-time librarians to $34. - Adjusted proposal (intended to fit within the current fiscal year if approved): custodians/clerks to $19; assistants to $21; part-time librarians to $31.
Board members discussed that giving raises now would require the next fiscal year to include the increases; otherwise, raises would not be sustainable. The director and staff said they plan to meet with city finance staff and requested a special meeting if needed. Several board members supported the raises and described the current librarian pay as low compared with Fairfield County peers.
No formal vote on wages occurred at the meeting; the director said the board will pursue finance meetings and return with a timeline once the city's operating budget steps are clear.
