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Franklin mayor reaffirms support for library, outlines city energy-upgrade progress
Summary
Mayor John Nelson attended the January 27 Franklin Public Library Board meeting to reaffirm support for the library and provide an update on Johnson Controls–led energy upgrades, including completed water-conservation work, delays on AC coil replacement and a mid-March solar installation start date.
Mayor John Nelson attended the Franklin Public Library Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 27 to reaffirm his support for the library and to report progress on the city’s Johnson Controls (JCI) energy-efficiency project.
At the meeting, Nelson told trustees he attends boards and commissions as his schedule allows and invited trustees to contact him directly about library matters. “If there's ever anybody needs to get a hold of me or wants to contact me for anything — any discrepancies, any misnomers, any confusion — call me. We can ... I'm right next door,” Nelson said.
Nelson summarized recent JCI work affecting the library. Library staff reported JCI has completed valve work and water-conservation projects and has begun wiring thermostats in preparation for new boilers. Library staff also said the project has replaced urinals and faucets, completed weather stripping on 12 doors and completed some lighting work; additional lighting work was expected in mid-February. Nelson and staff said the planned solar installation is scheduled to start in mid-March.
Trustees and staff discussed a delay in the building's air-conditioning work. Jennifer, the library director, said a new refrigerant requirement that took effect Jan. 1 changed the planned procedure: instead of cleaning coils the contractor originally planned, coils must now be replaced, which has caused a delay. Jennifer said the boilers are expected in mid-February and that installers plan to sequence work so only one boiler is out of service at a time to avoid major library closures.
Nelson noted the city restored $25,000 to the library’s budget during the JCI project after assessing that the projects would not negatively affect the library’s operating funds. He described staffing and budgeting tradeoffs across city departments and urged trustees to contact him with questions about staffing or budget priorities.
Library staff said the library has about 165,000 annual visits and that staffing levels require at least four employees in the building at most times for liability and service continuity. Trustees and Nelson discussed full-time equivalents versus actual full-time positions and the operational differences between full- and part-time workers.
The mayor remained at the meeting for a short time after remarks and encouraged trustees to reach out to him when questions arise.
