Southborough trustees approve three-year contract and reappoint Library Director Ryan Donovan

The Southborough Library Board of Trustees unanimously approved a three-year employment contract for Library Director Ryan Donovan at its July 14 meeting and voted to reappoint him to the position effective July 1, 2025. Trustees also agreed logistics for signing the contract and completing required signatures.

Trustees said the contract had been reviewed by town attorneys and revised through multiple drafts, and that the final document reflected attorney-recommended boilerplate and clarifications the board requested. Trustees discussed whether further clarification would require an executive session; the board concluded no additional public-session discussion was necessary and proceeded to a vote.

Trustees were told the municipal pay increase included in the contract is consistent with the town’s personnel actions (the meeting record noted a 5% increase provided through the SAP process); trustees emphasized that the first contract year does not change the pay already enacted for the fiscal year. The board also discussed logistics for signing: printed copies will be available at the library so trustees may sign in person and the signed contract will be posted per town practice.

Library Director Ryan Donovan said he was comfortable with the contract language and thanked trustees for their work on the document. Trustees acknowledged a period of negotiation spanning several months and recognized staff who assisted with revisions. The board voted unanimously to approve the contract and reappoint Donovan; the board will collect signatures and the signed contract will be submitted to the town as required.