Trustees back Friends' event dates and forward liquor-license approvals to select board

At the July 1 meeting trustees reviewed the Friends' schedule and agreed to forward liquor-license approvals to the select board for final signature while discussing ways to expand Friends membership and fundraising capacity.

The Friends proposed fall dates—Aug. 29, Sept. 26 and Oct. 24—for events tied to book sales. Trustees moved to approve the liquor-license paperwork with the amendment that the trustees' action be forwarded to the select board for final approval; the motion was seconded and the record shows multiple trustees voting 'aye.'

Trustees also discussed a proposal to form a short-term subcommittee to grow the Friends group, recruit volunteers and coordinate fundraising and events. The trustees discussed possible subcommittee tasks: membership outreach, event planning (e.g., book sales), and administrative coordination so staff time is not consumed by volunteer management. One trustee said the Friends can be a fundraising vehicle but warned capacity is limited and that the Friends had earlier declined to serve as a formal foundation for major capital fundraising.

Next steps: trustees will forward the liquor-license documentation to the select board and will continue outreach to expand the Friends membership. The board asked that trustees and staff coordinate potential events and map volunteer roles to avoid overburdening staff.