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Franklin library board to end Dust Free contract, authorize hire of evening maintenance custodian
Summary
The Franklin Public Library Board voted Dec. 23 to terminate its cleaning contract with Dust Free Cleaning Service Inc., allow the vendor to continue month-to-month if needed, and authorize the director to post a 20-hour-per-week evening maintenance custodian position effective with the contract termination.
At its Dec. 23 meeting, the Franklin Public Library Board of Trustees voted to terminate the library's cleaning contract with Dust Free Cleaning Service Inc., while allowing the company to continue on a month‑to‑month basis until a new maintenance custodian is hired.
The board also authorized Library Director Jennifer (Library Director) to post a 20‑hour‑per‑week evening maintenance custodian position through the city human resources process, to take effect when the contract with Dust Free ends. Trustee Annie Oplagia moved the termination motion; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
The board's discussion focused on staffing levels, costs and continuity. Jennifer said she had discussed the plan with Joe, the city's buildings/facilities contact, and reported that “Joe is totally on board with this.” Trustees clarified that the planned staffing mix would keep the existing morning custodian and weekend coverage while adding an evening 20‑hour position; that combination produces roughly the 52 weekly cleaning/maintenance hours the library will have after the change, including the weekend worker and the morning custodian. Board members and staff discussed past difficulties recruiting for a lower‑paid cleaning position and said reclassifying the role as a maintenance custodian with a higher pay rate should improve hiring prospects.
Trustees also asked that the termination include a contingency: if Dust Free will not remain on a month‑to‑month basis until a hire is made, the board would accept the financial and operational implications of a 30‑ to 60‑day transition. Jennifer said the city will post the position immediately and that any new hire could be scheduled to start when the contract ends; she noted hiring start dates must follow city human resources rules.
The board's motions were explicit that the contract termination is conditional on the vendor agreeing to continue month‑to‑month until a custodian is hired. Trustees and staff discussed whether the library could recruit a commercial cleaning firm instead of hiring a city employee; the board agreed the new evening position should be a city maintenance custodian, not a residential cleaner, and should have commercial/maintenance experience.
The board approved both the termination motion and the hiring authorization by voice vote.
