 Thank you. Okay minutes nobody wants to Okay little little slow on the uptake this afternoon, okay anything anybody want to say about the minutes I Can you hear me? Yes, Robert Okay, I believe these are minutes for December 13th correct And it says December 1 Oh Did I send the wrong ones or just not make that change I'm Unless I have the wrong ones that might say the first two, so I'll make that change Okay President's report item four It says trustee Pam will be out of town and unable to sign post the town council meeting I Don't believe I said I couldn't sign prior to the town council meeting That was the issue I believe Stick a five Five a for Apple question about what happens if patron has a dispute Question was if a patron disputes a decision anything else There were some edits to a poem, but you probably don't want to know that Okay anything else I have Bob, can I well can I ask you all I don't so go back to Five B for what are you recommending that the wording gets changed? Be for Yes, post need to change to pre is that that with a yes Instead of post the TC meeting it is prior to the town council meeting I Couldn't sign before the town council meeting. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. Good Okay, anything else on the minutes Are we ready to vote to approve the minutes so on the question of approving a minute far Yes Thank You Lee. Yes Alex yeah Tammy Yes, Bob. Yes, and Austin votes. Yes. Thank you So Bob you need to meet yourself Bob Okay, I will try to do that. I'm not good with Thank you Bob, that's great So I just want to take this occasion to thank Alex for all the good work she's done in taking minutes For the for the board the minutes have been Terrific efficiently done and and generally accurate Except when they're not So thank you for that. Okay public comment. We have one member of the public in attendance. Okay So in the absence of public comment, I want to make a public comment the public comment I want to make is An enormous number of people worked enormously hard To provide information that the town council needed To do what the town council did Which is to carefully review and assess What would be involved in increasing the bond authorization for the For for the renovation expansion project People in town hall Bob Herrod did it Sharon herself did an enormous amount Together information I want to thank them and all of the folks were involved. I also want to say That while I didn't always agree with The arguments that were made and the information that was provided by the critics of the project I think that the town is better off Because of the active involvement of its citizens And I thought we saw throughout this process People who tried their best To articulate their views digest A lot of information And come to a conclusion About what the town should do and be And what role the library would play in what the town should do and be Things were said some of them I regretted having to hear but throughout I thought I'm lucky to live in a town where people care And that they care about the town and that they care about the library I will say one thing that I think it's important for all of us to say As we move forward with what we do as library trustees And we move forward on the building project Is we are not just library trustees We are not an interest group Each one of us drives on the roads each one of us depends upon emergency services Each one of us depends upon Public works people being able to do what they do Some of us have children in the schools. Some of them had children Who've gone through the schools? We are citizens of the town and I think if any of us thought That the addition or renovation to the library Would have been a net detriment to the overall well-being of the town We would have thought differently about the project And that's what I think is true for everybody We weren't just you know, we got a project You know care I think everybody on the board cares a lot about the well-being of the town And that was front and center of what it is that we were about I also want to say a special word of thanks to Lee Edwards and through Lee to the capital campaign committee We were in a very different position than we might have otherwise been because of the Extraordinary success of the capital campaign I also want to thank My good friend and compatriot Bob Pam Who again did well beyond what he needed to do In the way of on work on this project And for Bob's important role in Providing information to the town council that was absolutely essential On to where we came out so the library Project now gets back to work The building committee gets back to work In moving this project forward And there will be more work to be done Between now and the time that The renovation expansion of the jones library Opens And I guess the phrase is there was nothing gooder Than to hear some of the residents of amherst Come forward and talk about what the library meant and means to them That was uh an amazing tribute to our library staff and what they do every day Okay Next item Uh Number five says amendment number two of the memorandum of agreement between the town and the jones library There's nothing else that we need to do about the memorandum of agreement We will need to sign it when we are called to do that number six the library director contract so Procedurally what I'd like us to do if it's okay with you is I'd like someone to move that we approve the contract And then if it's seconded we can have a discussion of the contract So is there a motion to approve the contract? I move that we approve the contract Okay, so I think a move and tammy Secondly second somebody seconded so uh We've had we have in front of us a proposed uh contract that would run Through october of 2026. So this is basically a three-year extension of the contract Uh Sharon has been library director for more than a decade And in her annual evaluations Uh is typically regarded as quite successful as a library director Uh respected by the staff by the board by patrons And by people in town hall so in the contract I am proposing Certain changes from the prior contract um in article five of the contract Uh, I'm proposing that The vacation schedule be changed um in article Uh, let me just see I may have skipped something all along The changes are indicated in red Uh in the in the contract the dates change In article five the compensation changes As well as the vacation the proposal is to change the Vacation days In article nine beat Um, I am proposing that uh the the period of time Uh Link to this termination clause be changed from six to nine months and Uh, there are other changes as you can see in the job description And that's just to update the job description to make it conform to what it is that Sharon actually does so Uh, the contract is up for discussion Is there any Discussion of the contract? Yeah, power Just have one annoying comment under duties number seven Spokesperson should be one word First first line of number seven Second sentence I'm sorry. I'm just not Where you are so you're just going to tell me this you're in the job description. Yeah Spokesperson, okay. Thank you Okay, any other discussion of the contract Alex um, thanks a couple things so um It looks like also an article two of the contract um We changed that the board will give six months written notice. Yeah rather than Three so I know in 2017 We changed to the three months because that was um the suggestion of the hr director Um at the time so I guess I'm just curious is That the same again or what what was the I've not had any conversation with the hr director The impetus to doing this is um That we have a library director who's been in place for more than a decade And who has performed in a exemplary way and uh, I believe that the because of the her service And what it is that she has shown herself capable of doing That we should Give her this a little bit more time and that's I have a couple other questions. I keep uh Uh So um under um article nine section b Yeah termination by the board uh for other than cause So obviously the change from six to nine months Along the lines of the same reason So I I know when we reviewed this in 2017 We went from one month to six months And that we made that change to make it more aligned with how other town employees were treated and I know that we were looking at um At the time the superintendent contract was being negotiated So we didn't have anything to compare it to but that's obviously a year and then the town manager Uh contract increases with the length of time on the job So again, I mean it it seems to me and I'm just confirming what you've already said So this change from the six to nine months is sort of in keeping with what we see The town practices relative to Director or that type of level of position is what May that change again just Confirming my my assumptions are correct Which is Again, I'm just going to repeat what I said to you. I did not myself So I can't confirm your assumptions Okay But but yeah, okay um So I guess the biggest thing of note from the board perspective on that change from the six to nine months is that There's a there's a severance package attached to that which means there's a financial piece to that So I guess I just want to make sure that people realize that when we go from the six to nine months that if we terminate the Library director for a reason other than cause Then that means we're responsible for a nine month severage package as opposed to a six month severage package So nothing you shouldn't do it just saying it's a financial decision that that's what it says. That's right Yep. Yep. Okay, and then I guess my only other Question and that this might be for another day. This has always been in there But in the first section of article nine termination by the board for cause um I don't I don't know the original thought process behind that language but the It talks about termination by the board for cause and the second one is insubordination by the director and I guess I just I don't know the fiction this year, but I guess I understand why that's there, but usually there's language that talks about like willful or gross misconduct or at least like You know some sort of duty to engage in progressive discipline So I'm just I'm being more from Sharon side of the table like, you know, I personally would want language that that Didn't just have the insubordination by the director I would want something that has some sort of process because insubordination is I mean, it's a legally defined term. I don't know. I just that's I would I would suggest that the pvp look at that language next year. So um, and See how we feel about it. It's certainly different than how other libraries have it. Um and it is Similar but slightly different to how it's done with the superintendent. So it's just something to think about in the future So just sort of my observations I'll leave it at that So just to be clear, Alex this contract is for three years. We're not going to look at it again next year Sorry, I misspoke three years. That's that's what I mean. Just want to be just want to be clear Yep, Tammy Yeah, I'm just curious in the draw description on number seven Why serves as chief liaison with the friends of the jones libraries crossed out Is that something that that um Sharon Yeah, only because we were cleaning up the language and put it up As its own bullet point number three. Yeah, we just made it stronger Oh, okay, okay All right, okay anything else on the contract The answer is yes, but uh, I don't know if you can hear me We can okay um Going back to compensation The number has changed. Is that her current compensation? jerry Yeah, that's my current compensation. Yeah, so I won't by approving this contract. I'm not going to get another raise Okay, other than the two percent that that is typically given um Last time this contract was renewed um, the point was that you were dealing with uh comparative equity with The school board or the school superintendent and the town manager um So the question is when you ask for or are offered 30 days of annual leave. Is that what they are receiving? I do not know what either of them receive So the basis for this is simply this is what you would like No, the basis for this is what I've said Which is I'm making a proposal to the board Yes, the proposal is Because we've had a library director in place for more than a decade Because the library directors uh Has shown a consistent record of performance for the library That we make these changes Now Sharon may may resist them, but she hasn't to me And she may not want more, but she hasn't made that argument to me So she hasn't resisted receiving it Okay, um, I'd like to ask about um Job description major duties. Yep. Um item one it has Two things that I guess I would look for One has to do with implementing decisions of the board, which is not listed here anywhere And the second was Basically focus on patrons and town residents. I mean that's the whole job and Nowhere is patrons shown anywhere in this listening of duties and um, that seems to me that is that is a gap um Well, let's say bob again on the on the second thing I thought it was covered when it says Forsters an excellent customer service experience um It is not how I would write that Yeah, procedurally it would be really helpful These are perfectly reasonable things if you would frame what you want as an amendment And tell us the language and then somebody would second the amendment. We could discuss it Okay I will then continue on but I will think about how to write this in as particular words Um, well, I am not sure My hope bob is to vote on this today So if you want to You want to propose language? I will work on that in a moment. It's two months. You know, this is something we should have done in october So we're we're already a couple months behind And I'm just wondering if and I'm happy to help you if there's some some way I can be helpful in terms of framing What do you want? So let's take the first one because I it was I wanted to add Uh, implements decisions of the board. Is that correct? Implements decisions of the board. Yes Okay, so let's Let's just look where that might go Um I'll provide guidance direction to staff consistent plans Uh, for the teamwork ensures that staff members is hiring So how about we add it bob right at the end? Uh, where it says has hiring and firing authority and then include Uh, implements decisions of the board of trustees of the jones library Would that be is that what you have in mind before works closely with the town since that Moves away from the library to the town Bob I'm thinking about it. So, okay Sorry, Austin. I'm just for the minute. Where where were you inserting that what section? Just hold on one second. Let's just this would be under major duties item one. Thank you um I guess Bob there's another possibility I'm sorry if I may Look at number five five is where There's a reference to the board participates with the board and suggests improvements Provides policy and action recommendations alerts the board recommends corrective actions supervises implementation of new programs and services Services as an ex-officio member. So How about not under major duties how about Where it says and supervises implementation of new programs and services, how about we say and implements decisions of the board Including supervising The implementation of new programs and services would that do it? One could put it there. I would just say and supervises implementation So you were proposing that that we delete of new programs and services I am not deleting anything. I am simply Placing it in front of the word and supervises implementation So it starts with implements decisions of the board and supervises implementation great Of new programs and services. Yes Okay, bob has made a motion. Is there a second? Not second great Is there a discussion of the Proposed amendment which would be to Include the words implement decisions of the board Prior to supervise the implementation of new programs and services in number five I I thought I understood bob's Suggestion that it was its own sentence No, I am willing to have it go into that larger sentence Essentially this becomes part of participates with the take up the take up the word and After the semicolon implements decisions of the board and supervises implementations of new programs and services Okay, it's kind of lost there, but okay Are we ready to vote on the amendment any of the discussion of this particular amendment? And we're going to go back to the other one that bob talked about What I'm sorry, I I'm uh, what it's in section five It's at section five two lines from the bottom of section five. It says and supervises implementation of new programs and services Yep, and before that we would add we would drop the and yep add implements decisions of the board of trustees And supervises implementation of new programs and services So semicolon implements and then and supervise implementation new programs and services Okay, I ready to vote on the amendment Flower Yes, thank you. Tammy. Uh, yes. Thank you. Alex Yeah, thank you. Lee. Yes And bob Yes, and austin votes. Yes Hey bob, you had another Another thing that you you want it Major so folk major duties number one. Yep There or to be a sentence which says ensures focus on patrons and town residents That is what we're about so again bob just to see whether we can force this teamwork innovation And an exceptional customer service experience Do you want to insert your sentence after that sentence? No, we have to find where you are suggesting it be. I mean, I'm in number one Yeah, direct direct operations I'm at three lines from the bottom. It says foster teamwork Innovation and exceptional customer service experience It then says ensures that staff members are probably trained Has hiring and far any work closing with down human resources So if you want to add something It might be logical to put it in after An exceptional customer service experience All right, and that would then Proceed to to ensure a focus On patrons and town residents Maybe we were gone for five hours Okay That's bob the proposed amendment. Is there a second to his amendment? Second Okay, is there a discussion of this amendment? Yes Tara Why aren't we just saying why aren't we stopping at patrons? Patrons covers town residents, right? Bob patrons of patrons whether they're town residents or Or you know from Leverett or Pellum We have to move on The services that we provide are multifaceted And what we do sometimes is in the building sometimes is out of the building There are large Variety of services. I don't know what the definition of patrons is from your perspective Is an esl class a patron? I don't know the answer to that So I am trying to just make sure that what we are doing makes sense An esl class is a patron They're making use of the library services, right? So i'm just going to say for myself. I'm i'm going to vote against this amendment Because I believe it's already covered An exceptional customer service experience That patrons residents To the extent that the library director has to serve them This names her duty as providing an exceptional customer service experience So I think it's already covered. I'm not opposed to bob sentiment, but I think it's already I think it's already there I'm not sure I believe that patrons are the same thing as customers Well, again, that's perfectly fine. I think that the That the language of this job description Does the work that we want it to do But again, if the if the amendment passes it passes If it fails and someone wants to substitute a different word for customer Then then that's a different that's a different thing, but we're on the amendment that you have proposed So yeah for the discussion of that amendment. Yeah, alex um, yeah, so bob, I see what you're saying and um Not opposed what you're saying and I'm thinking maybe an alternative is to reference the mission statement somewhere in the contract Because our mission statement talks about The jones library is a community hub to a diverse population of amherst residents where books are celebrated all members of the community can enhance their educational cultural life long learning pursuit like I don't know whether Harkening back to documents we've already created that sort of give The sense of of our desire for customer service is a is a way because I mean to the point about the esl uh, we have esl people who are not residents and I mean, I define anyone uses the library whether it's for esl services the patron But I know I can tell you for sure that we have esl people that are not residents That come from other towns. So saying resident doesn't pick up that group Which I think is what you were hoping to have so We have an amendment that's been proposed So we want to decide on that amendment if you want to further change it Then you need to propose an amendment to the amendment so to speak So bob has proposed something Is there any other discussion what bob has proposed as an amendment to the number one about the the duties Tammy are you yeah I'm wondering if bob would be up for a friendly amendment that said An exceptional patron experience Um this instead of customer if that would cover enough for me What what he's saying to me is implicit in the job description But uh, I don't think these things need to be spelled out But I'm wondering if he would be Open to instead of having an enhanced customer experience having enhanced patron experience I'd be fine with substituting patron for customer. I Really don't know what happens to the rest of what happens to the rest of what you were proposing Which is a focus on town residents Well, it's it's not simply that that patron should have a good experience. It is that We should focus on serving them and it's uh, I'm just not sure this is getting those words clear But it's clear in in the job description about her directing the people who serve the public all day long This is not Not library language I I'm not going to Die over this question So I I wanted to make sure that we were at some point saying that the purpose of the library is to serve patrons And that we should make that as clear and is inclusive a way of saying that as we can That is the major duty beyond, you know administering in an office or a staff Or a building it is really about servicing a population Um, and so I just was uncomfortable with not having that appears somewhere Uh in this document So again, I just wanted to see whether we can do this so that we're all clear about Bob is proposed an amendment And the amendment's been seconded Let's discuss and vote on the amendment if we don't like his amendment We can vote it down and if anybody wants to propose another change or another amendment they can do that So bob has proposed something that Included the language of patrons and included Bob was a town resident. Yes You know, okay, I'm not I'm not Wedded to a just saying town because as you know, a third of our patrons comes from out of town Yep, that's why I'm done another reason. I'm gonna vote against it so Uh, are we ready to decide on bob's amendment? And then if anybody wants to propose another change or more discussion of bob's amendment Okay, so voting on the amendment Um, alex, do you have the language of the amendment? alex you're muted Sorry about that. Uh, yes, I think so. I think in Major duties section one third to last line Foster's teamwork innovation And an exceptional customer service experience and then insert to ensure a focus on patrons and town residents Thank you. Is bob is that did that capture your your meaning? It is what I had originally written Correct. Um I could eliminate the word town if that would help anybody So again, what I'm going to just propose just so that we can move this along and get clarity is Let's vote on the amendment that you propose That's fine. And then if it passes it passes if it doesn't You or anybody else can propose any other change in the language. Would that be okay? Yes, just so we don't get lost. Okay ferro No voting on the amendment ferro No Lee No alex No, I mean I don't Tammy No Bob I'll say yes. Just to move move this along. Okay, so I vote no, so uh The amendment is not adopted. Is there any other proposed amendment to the to this particular job description? Yes, Tammy I move that we substitute patron for customer in that line an exceptional patron Experience you mean patron experience or you mean patron service experience? I think just our patron service experience I would just put exceptional patron experience. Right. That's fine. So you're proposing to delete the words Customer service and substitute patron. Is there a second? Yeah Second. Lee seconds. Okay. Is there a discussion? Okay on the on the amendment bar Yes Thank you. Lee. Yes. Yep, alex Yeah Tammy Yes Robert Yes And austin votes yes Okay, any other Yes Robert Item three was described as a substitute for the Deleted section of seven This would suggest that the only reason for Relationship with the friends is fundraising and that does not seem to me to be an accurate description of our relationship Nor should it be You are you proposing an amendment bar? so As always, you know, I had identified this problem. I had not suggested specific words So, how about the following may may offer some words for you? Yes, it captures what you want Yes Number three it should begin serves as chief liaison with the friends of the life of the jones library Period works directly with the friends of the jones library system and all fundraising So it just takes the language that was deleted from number seven Put it up as the first part of Number three is That is a good thing to say I believe there are A variety of ways in which we work with the friends, uh, which are not all about fundraising No, but the proposed language would say serves as chief liaison with the friends of the jones library Period that is independent of fundraising All right, I would I would accept that as a solution to the issue Fabulous so austin is now proposing an amendment The amendment is that we would add to number three The first sentence serves with the gavel s as chief liaison with the friends of the jones library period And then the rest would remain as it is Is there a second to that amendment Second, thank you. Is there a discussion of that amendment? Okay voting on that amendment forum Yes, thank you. Lee. Yes Alice Yes Tammy Yes Robert Yes And austin votes yes Okay, anything else on the contract Um, I did not see where the six months had become nine months So earlier uh on in article number Nine b termination by the board for other than cause Three lines from the bottom of the page Mine does not show a change Uh, I'm sorry. I don't know what document you have Uh, so I'm going to just say the sentence begins further. The director shall continue to receive a monthly salary and benefits But expressly excluding the accrual of vacation time for a period of nine months After the date of termination Okay, mine that did not have that Oh, I apologize, but that's that's what I'm proposing Bob might be looking at the first first version of the draft and not the second version that Sharon sent All right, let's see that was another word Well, um, this is your proposal. So I guess I would Uh, Suggest an amendment to go back to six Great Is there a second to bob's amendment? second Okay, is there a discussion I would ask whether anybody else in the town of amherst has such a provision Alex So bob I did confirm that the uh, superintendent's contract is one year um The superintendent of the schools is one year um And I know that it's the practice I don't know what it is currently because I didn't have time to look up the town manager But I know the practice around the town manager contract is that as the length of time In the job extends so to does this number so I saw the same thing but then based on what I saw with the superintendent and the town manager It it's a it's a change. It's a change that seems consistent with the practices of other departments in town Okay, are we ready to vote on bob's amendment? Um, I'm still asking a question if that's all right. Yeah, absolutely So although it is the practice for the period uh To be extended if people have remained in From The question in the end is still has anyone ever gotten nine months of of Of unpaid leave if if terminated Well, certainly the superintendent has one year And we just saw that play out you're talking about maris. Yes But if you if you you I mean not the contracts are public documents so you can literally just I'm sorry No, no between now and when we vote on this. I don't suspect I'm going to get to do that Bob has proposed is to substitute six months for nine months correct Great is there a further discussion of this amendment I want to emphasize what alex said and what I said, which is the proposal to extend it recognizes the length of service And this has grown with the time that she's been in her job Alex So bob, I did just look up the town manager contract. Um, so it is uh nine months severance for the first year of the contract 10 months during the second year of the contract 11 months during the third year of the contract and then 12 months the fourth year of the contract So we have a three-year contract and the proposal is it be nine months? For every, you know, it's not going to grow Right, but that is but just so that bob's got that information and bob. I'm happy to send you links to the documents if you'd like Yeah, that's okay. I won't be looking at a jazz line Sit in the lobby of a hotel right So are we ready to vote on bob's ready to vote on bob's amendment? Yes. Okay farah Are you ready to vote? I'm sorry Yes, can we just repeat the language of his amendment his amendment is simply in number nine b To say for a period of six months after the date of termination as opposed to a period of nine months Oh Okay So are we ready to vote? Are you are we clear about what we're doing? So bob wants to reduce it By three months So what it is now? correct To what it is in the existing contract the contract that expired in october Okay, are we ready to vote? Okay far, how do you vote on the amendment? Yes or no? No lee No Alex No Tammy No Bob Yes, and Austin votes no Okay, are we ready now to vote on the contract? Okay on the question of approving the contract farah Yes, thank you lee. Yes Alex Yes, thank you. Tammy Yes Bob Yes Thank you and Austin votes Yes Okay, I think that does our business for today again. I want to thank you for the work that you do. Thank you for helping shape that language of the contract Of Sharon and I will find it the right moment to sign it And we look forward to three more Years of um The great work that you the great work that you do we are we are we are lucky that We have you and grateful for the work that you do Uh, I think this is the last time we will be together with Alex um, I want to say again How grateful I am for all the service that she has provided all the great work that she Um, all the great work that she she does we will we will miss you enormously In your role as a trustee Uh, but look forward to many many other occasions to collaborate in What Barack Obama once said the highest office you can ever hold and that is the office of citizen Thank you, Alex. Thank you. We miss you. We miss you Good holidays everybody Happy holidays Merry Christmas and happy new year. Take care everyone. Bye. Bye. Bye You