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Blackstone trustees approve revised food-and-allergen and charitable-collection policies
Summary
At their Sept. 9 meeting, the Blackstone Board of Library Trustees voted to remove a parental-signature requirement from the library’s food-and-allergen policy (adding signage instead) and approved a revised charitable-collection policy with a minor application edit.
On Sept. 9, 2024, the Blackstone Board of Library Trustees voted to approve revisions to the library’s food-and-allergen policy and to adopt a new charitable-collection policy.
Lisa Cheever, the library director, told trustees the food-and-allergen policy change removes a parental-signature requirement and instead requires signage in program rooms notifying patrons that food will be served. "The only change to this policy... we took out that parents will have to sign the form and I added, Assign will be placed in the room in which an event program takes place, notifying patrons that food is being served," Cheever said, adding the policy continues to prohibit peanuts and tree nuts and that staff will provide ingredient lists and alternatives for registered participants and drop-ins.
Trustees discussed day-to-day implementation, including staff emails to registered craft participants asking about allergies and having gluten- and dairy-free alternatives available. Kelly Gillis, who identified herself as the nurse on the board, supported the signage and notification approach as an operationally feasible way to reduce risk.
On a motion recorded by the board as first by Kate Reno and second by Jean Alexandowitz, trustees approved the revised food-and-beverage/allergen policy by voice vote.
Cheever also presented a revised charitable-collection policy and accompanying application. Trustees noted an inconsistency in the application form where the director’s authority was described; they asked that the form list "designee" alongside "director" so someone authorized can sign when the director is unavailable. The board approved the charitable-collection policy as revised on a subsequent voice vote.
Both policy changes will be incorporated into the library’s policy manual; the director or designated staff will circulate the edited language to trustees before the next meeting for record-keeping and implementation. The decisions were procedural board actions and did not require outside approvals.
