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Director reports solar online, HVAC and RFID projects still unresolved; library plans chiller replacement in fall
Summary
Director Jennifer Lovell reported that solar panels are physically online but awaiting a permit to operate; HVAC issues persist with a recent coolant leak and uneven cooling while the Johnson Controls upgrade and an RFID/self-check system rollout have produced glitches.
Franklin Public Library Director Jennifer Lovell told trustees on April 28 that the library’s rooftop solar array was installed April 17 but is not yet operational because the utility must grant permission to operate, and several building-systems projects remain incomplete.
“[The solar] is not operational yet because they’re waiting for a permit to operate from WE Energies,” Lovell said. The library is awaiting the utility’s final sign-off before the array begins producing credited energy.
Lovell said the library experienced a substantial HVAC failure earlier in the year when coolant leaked from a system and contractors had to refill it; the resulting repair contributed to operating-category overages in 2024. The board discussed plans to replace the chiller in the fall. Lovell described ongoing issues with controls access and temperature swings: the library is transitioning to a Johnson Controls building-management platform that is not yet fully functional, and staff reported intermittent hot conditions in offices.
“Joe will not turn the AC on if the nightly temperatures are getting under the thirties because he doesn’t trust it to turn off,” Lovell said, explaining a maintenance precaution tied to freeze risk. The boilers are staged for replacement but remain in service until heat is no longer required.
Library staff also reported glitches with a new RFID and self-check system installed in February. Lovell said staff have opened five support tickets with the vendor and that some external library tags (Brown Deer) require additional programming. Patrons have been able to use self-check machines intermittently, but staff flagged several operational issues (card and item scanning) the vendor must resolve.
Additional facility updates included an LED retrofit that will be done row-by-row with light-meter readings before full replacement, a recent leak in the children’s department related to valve problems that has been cleaned up, and a temporary spike in office temperatures the director described as above normal while fixes continue.
Lovell highlighted scheduled and upcoming events and outreach in the operations report, including a successful 4K family engagement event, ongoing concert-table volunteer requests, and a foundation literary event set for Sept. 25 featuring local author Nick Petrie. She said the library’s electronic circulation continues to rise even as some physical-checkout numbers dipped.
Board members did not vote on capital projects at the meeting; they requested continued vendor follow-up on the RFID system, completion of the Johnson Controls transition, and scheduling for the chiller replacement in the fall.
