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Stephenson Memorial Library trustees accept $50,000 gift, approve safety repair and policy updates
Summary
Trustees accepted a $50,000 donation from the Debra Cilley Trust to be paid in $5,000 annual installments, authorized a town-led paint repair after a patron tripped on a granite step, and approved several policy changes including pausing review of the Library Bill of Rights policy pending federal updates.
Stephenson Memorial Library trustees voted May 18 to accept a $50,000 donation from the Debra Cilley Trust and approved a package of actions that included a safety repair to library steps and multiple policy updates.
At the meeting, Chair Andra Hall moved to accept the $50,000 gift, to be distributed in $5,000 annual sums, with the funds designated for projects listed on the agenda: property engineering and gardening work, planting maple trees along the property line, a shed for outdoor equipment, a fence along the Slip Road property line, and, if funds allow, replacing the library sign to match town signage. Wendy Durrett seconded the motion; all trustees present voted in favor and the motion passed. Jean Rube Rainier sat as a voting trustee for the meeting in the absence of Secretary Stephanie Kokal.
The trustees also approved a motion permitting the town to paint the lip of a granite step where a patron had tripped, a safety-focused measure raised during the director’s report. Andra Hall moved the measure and Jean Rube Rainier seconded; trustees voted unanimously to allow the town to proceed.
On policy, trustees voted to remove SML-POL-03 (Library Bill of Rights) from the review cycle until federal updates are issued. They amended SML-POL-02 (Meeting Space Policy) to require an annual review rather than annual renewal and added an insurance requirement to SML-POL-02F (Application for Meeting Space Use) for private-party rentals. The board reviewed SML-POL-04 (Circulation Policy) and SML-POL-05 (Code of Conduct) with no changes, and added language to SML-POL-14 (Interlibrary Loan Policy) noting potential delays from the state library. Andra Hall moved to accept the listed policy updates; Wendy Durrett seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
The trustees also approved the April meeting minutes and accepted a verbal treasurer’s report; Wendy Durrett and Bailey were noted as coordinating a handoff of treasurer duties. Director Ella’s report highlighted programming successes, upcoming events, and operational statistics: year-to-date patron savings were reported at $42,657.35 (calculated using a town population of 1,716), and recent programs included a Birdscaping session with 18 attendees and a Mother’s Day Tea with 16 attendees. Ella said she is working with the Toadstool on a summer reading collaboration and will follow up on grant applications (including a possible LCHIP application for air exchange work and a Historic Preservation Alliance grant for a front door).
Trustees reviewed the planned phases for spending the Debra Cilley funds and noted an outstanding Field Stone invoice dated March 2025 tied to the property-engineering phase. The spending plan lists multiple stages and timing (shed Summer 2026; fence and maple plantings in spring 2026; sign replacement possible spring 2027) and ties later phases to available funds.
No new business was raised. The trustees reviewed the to-do list and set the next monthly meeting for Monday, June 15, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Reading Room at Stephenson Memorial Library.
