Library Trustees Mull Budget, Future

The Dedham Library Trustees held a preliminary goodbye to chairman Bob Desmond, who has served as a trustee for 20 years. 

Desmond received a plaque from his fellow trustees and said that it was good to know that they all were appreciated. 

“We don’t get paid,” he said, “It’s a sacrifice for all of us."

"The library is well served by the people who represent it," Desmond added. 

Saturday, April 9, is the Dedham town election day, and there are two library trustee positions on the ballot. Trustee Brad Bauer and newcomer Rachel Forsythe-Tuerck are both running unopposed. 

In other business, Library Director Patricia Lambert announced that the Finance Committee is looking for more documentation while developing the presentation for state aid for the library.  

“I’ve never heard so much support for the library," she noted.

Lambert also stated that the Mitigation Committee approved $25,000 for the library, but that the money still needs to be approved by the Capital Committee. 

The $25,000 approved by the Mitigation Committee will be used as part of a five-year plan for the library, part of which will be used to hire a consultant on how to do so. 

Also in other business, Lambert said that after an initial budget presentation to the Board of Selectmen, she went back to the trustees and re-constructed the budget. 

She said the new budget, which has not yet finalized with the Selectmen, does not include having either library open on Sundays.  The final budget will be $981,588, she said. At the meeting, Moulton suggested that in the future it be only one building.

The trustees also discussed Lambert’s evaluation.

Desmond stated that the trustees came to the conclusion that out of a one to five scale, Lambert would receive a 3.5. He also said that in the future Lambert would like to be graded on the achievement of goals as opposed to the generic scale. 

Lambert stated she has already created some of her own goals.

“We desperately need an ESL program,” said Lambert, adding many students come to the library after school because their parents do not speak English.

She said that she has already ordered $2,000 in ESL books for adults.

Correction: Due to a reporting error, a previous version erronously stated Derek Moulton serves on the Avery Re-Use Committee. He does not. 

Correction: A previous version also stated Moulton favored the libraries move into the old Avery School. That statement was according to library trustee Bob Desmond. Moulton has since said that is not his opinion.