Minutes
Library Board of Trustees - Minutes - May 18, 2026
May 18, 2026
A public record published by the Town of Simsbury (simsbury-ct.gov). mySimsbury indexes it and makes it readable; it is not the official copy. View the original file.
Page 1 of 4 Library Board of Trustees1 Regular Meeting2 May 18, 2026 – 7:00 P.M3 Simsbury Public Library – Weatogue Room4 725 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 060705 6 MINUTES7 8 I. CALL TO ORDER- Madam Chair McGrath called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.9 10 Present: Chair, Holly McGrath; Vice Chair, Polly Rice; Secretary, Mary Glassman;11 Co-Chair of Strategic Plan Committee, Don Heymann; Board of Trustees: Heather12 Czuchta, Anne Erickson, Marianne O’Neil, Susan Ray, and Laurie Shinaman;13 Simsbury Public Library Director, Lisa Miceli; President of the Friends of the Library,14 Greg Golinski; and Liaison to the Board of Selectman, Diana Yeisley.15 16 All present stood for the Pledge of Allegiance17 18 MOTION: Vice Chair Rice made a motion, seconded by Trustee O’Neil, to add a19 proposal from JJ Hanrahan to the agenda. The motion carried unanimously. (9-0-0)20 21 JJ Hanrahan, a Henry James Memorial School student, presented a proposal for a Little22 Free Food Pantry to be installed in the upper level of the Library as a school and23 community service project. JJ explained the dimensions and capacity of the pantry as24 well as the cost. The cost of the pantry would be covered through community donations.25 Library Director Miceli explained how library staff would monitor expiration dates and26 collaborate with Social Services.27 28 MOTION: Trustee O’Neill made a motion, seconded by Trustee Erickson, to approve29 the installation of the Little Free Food Pantry at the Simsbury Public Library as a one-30 year pilot program, to be reviewed following completion of the year. The motion31 carried unanimously. (9-0-0)32 33 II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES34 35 April 20, 2026, Regular Meeting36 Madam Chair McGrath amended lines 25 and 28 to change “Madam Chair Rice” to37 “Vice Chair Rice.”38 Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2026 Page 2 of 4 39 MOTION: Trustee Heymann made a motion, seconded by Trustee Ray, to approve the40 Minutes of the April 20, 2026 Regular Meeting as amended. The motion carried41 unanimously. (9-0-0)42 43 III. PUBLIC AUDIENCE44 45 No public audience.46 47 IV. COMMUNICATIONS48 49 Madam Chair McGrath noted communication from the First Selectman Wendy50 Mackstutis regarding the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation partnership, to be51 discussed during that point in the agenda.52 53 V. FRIENDS’ REPORT54 55 President Golinski reported that the Author Luncheon will be held the following day,56 May 19th. President Golinski also reported that the Friends’ regular meeting would take57 place on Thursday, May 21st.58 59 VI. CHAIR’S REPORT60 61 No Chair’s Report.62 63 VII. DIRECTOR’S REPORT64 65 Library Director Miceli reported:66 67 • Replacement work has begun on the malfunctioning heating coil in the68 Tariffville Room. Public Works feels the library will have some savings in the69 Buildings and Grounds portion of the budget so the operating budget from this70 year will be used to pay for the repairs. We are going with the more71 comprehensive option that will bring the Tariffville HVAC in line with the72 other Library HVAC systems, costing $27,000. Timeframe is unknown but this73 does not impact the air conditioning for the summer.74 • Clarification was made that the sensory headphones were purchased using75 Friends’ funds.76 77 Madam Chair McGrath shared that the Sustainability Fair was attended by78 approximately 1,200 community members. The Pride Picnic will be held on Monday,79 June 1 from 4:00pm-6:00pm.80 81 Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2026 Page 3 of 4 Library Director Miceli explained how the Pride Picnic costs are being allocated82 between the library, DEI, and Social Services.83 84 Madam Chair McGrath highlighted how although physical materials have declined85 over the year, digital materials have increased by 19%.86 87 Madam Chair McGrath expressed appreciation for the Library’s share in engaging88 Simsbury Teens in library focused capstone projects.89 90 VIII. APRIL FINANCE REPORT91 92 Library Director Miceli reported that the Facilities Maintenance states that it is over by93 $39,000. Public Works will have savings in that section as a whole which is why94 operating funds are being used for the Tariffville HVAC repair. It is assumed that the95 Public Works savings are coming from funds leftover in the Electricity budget line.96 97 IX. BUDGET FY 2026-202798 99 Madam Chair McGrath reported that the vote was held on Saturday, May 16 and the100 budget passed.101 102 Library Director Miceli reported:103 • There is a $23,000 reduction to the materials budget.104 • There is a $1,700 reduction to programming.105 • The proposal of early library closings has been eliminated due to minimal106 savings.107 • There will be a shared Business and Career Center Coordinator position108 between the library and Town Hall. Library Director Miceli is working with the109 Town Manager to solidify the schedule for this position in a way that will be110 beneficial for both the Library and the Town Hall.111 • The Deputy Director position will be on the Personnel Subcommittee agenda112 on June 8 then will go to the Board of Selectman on July 13.113 114 X. TEEN SPACE FUNDING115 116 Library Director Miceli shared that Senator Honig was able to secure $350,000 in117 funding for other Simsbury projects as well as closing in the Teen Space.118 119 $65,000 has been budgeted for design costs associated with the renovation not covered120 by the funding from Senator Honig.121 122 XI. GREATER HARTFORD GIVES FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP WITH123 TOWN OF SIMSBURY124 Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2026 Page 4 of 4 125 Madam Chair McGrath summarized communication from First Selectman Wendy126 Mackstutis clarifying that the proposed partnership is between the Town of Simsbury127 and the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation.128 129 Board discussion included:130 • Proposed signage at the library.131 • Clarification of the partnership structure.132 • Signage policy and precedent.133 • Potential impact on meeting room usage.134 135 The Board agreed additional clarification from the Board of Selectman and Town136 Hall was needed prior to taking action on signage.137 138 XII. POLICY COMMITTEE139 140 Trustee Shinaman presented proposed revisions to the Library Room Use and Fee141 Schedule, including fee increases and room capacity updates.142 143 MOTION: Trustee Glassman made a motion, seconded by Trustee Erickson, to144 approve the revised Library Room Use and Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2026, for145 new reservations. The motion carried unanimously. (9-0-0)146 147 XIII. STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE148 149 Madam Chair McGrath reported:150 • Community surveys would remain open through Memorial Day.151 • Approximately 435 survey responses have been collected.152 • Listening sessions have been conducted with various community groups and153 residents.154 • The Strategic Planning Committee will continue analysis of survey responses155 and community feedback.156 157 XIV. ADJOURNMENT158 159 MOTION: Vice Chair Rice made a motion, seconded by Trustee O’Neill, to adjourn160 the meeting. The motion carried unanimously. (9-0-0)161 162 Madam Chair McGrath adjourned the meeting at 7:54 P.M.163 164 Respectfully Submitted,165 Cameron DiSanto166 Administrative Secretary167