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Trustees amend Dec. 10 minutes, form mission-subcommittee and ask about indemnification coverage
Summary
At the Feb. 11 meeting, trustees approved an amendment to the Dec. 10 minutes describing an employee's comments at a Human Rights and Inclusion Committee meeting, formed a subcommittee to update investment-account mission language, and asked the Town about indemnification insurance coverage.
Trustees of the Peabody Institute approved an amendment to the Dec. 10, 2025 minutes, formed a small subcommittee to revise mission language governing the Institute's investment funds, and raised questions about indemnification insurance at their Feb. 11, 2026 meeting.
Why it matters: The approved amendment records a previously unreported discussion about a staff member's comments at a Human Rights and Inclusion Committee meeting; the formation of a mission-statement subcommittee affects how the Institute's investment funds may be used; and trustees sought clarity on legal protection if the board or individual trustees face litigation.
Chairperson Donna Hopkins read the proposed amendment to the Dec. 10 minutes, which described an incident in which "a library employee spoke, as a community member, at the Human Rights and Inclusion Committee meeting" and summarized that trustees discussed the matters raised and possible avenues the employee could pursue. After discussion, Trustee Kenneth Yoon Lee moved to approve the Dec. 10 minutes with the amendment; Cory Ryan seconded and the motion passed with Trustee Michael Hagan voting against it.
Hopkins also asked Trustees Noah Leavitt, Kenneth Yoon Lee and Jessica Cargile to serve on a subcommittee to develop a revised mission statement governing the merged Peabody Institute investment account and the former George Peabody Society account.
On a separate governance topic, Director Noelle Boc said she had met with the Town Manager, Human Resources and the Town Attorney's office; she said Massachusetts General Laws, the union contract and the Trustee by-laws define trustee and town roles and that Town attorneys are preparing a memorandum to clarify responsibilities for the trustees.
Trustee Mike Hagan raised a question about indemnification insurancewhether trustees are protected personally or only collectively if litigation is filed. Boc said she had spoken with Judy Smith, the Town purchasing agent who handles communications with insurer MIIA, and that the Town will investigate and report back.
With no other business, trustees voted to adjourn at 8:10 p.m.
What happens next: Town attorneys will provide a memorandum clarifying trustee and town roles; Boc will update trustees on any information from MIIA about indemnification coverage, and the mission-statement subcommittee will produce proposed language for the trustees to consider.
