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Trustees press for two-trustee representation, grant guidance on Ramsdell renovation
Summary
Co-Chairs told trustees the MBLC construction grant requires two trustees on the building committee; trustees asked Co-Chairs to seek shared representation and to gather grant and fundraising guidance from Town Manager Hartsgrove and available funding sources.
The Board of Library Trustees raised governance questions about the Ramsdell Public Library renovation during its July 1 meeting, saying the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) construction grant requires two trustees on the building committee but the committee currently lists only one trustee.
Co-Chairs Lauren Clark and Laura Mars said they will ask whether the two co-chairs may share the second trustee role on the building committee; if that is not permitted one of the co-chairs will put her name forward. Trustees also asked the Co-Chairs to gather information about other available grants and to consult Town Manager Hartsgrove about the extent to which trustees may engage in fundraising under local ordinances.
Trustees requested to be included in all interior-design discussions that affect library services and for notice of meetings where decisions about building use, including parking, will be made. The minutes record that trustees want to be able to offer written or in-person comments during committee deliberations and that the Co-Chairs will follow up on a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Trustees and their affiliated organizations (the Friends and the Fund) when it is ready for signatures.
Next steps: the Co-Chairs will seek clarification about the MBLC requirement and report back; trustees requested the Co-Chairs to provide grant information and to engage the Town Manager on fundraising questions.
