Francestown’s Board of Selectmen met Monday with the trustees of the town library.
The Board of Trustees for the George Holmes Bixby Memorial Library are responsible for the library’s budget, trust funds, hiring and policies. It has decided on improvements that need to be made to the building itself, and wanted consultation from selectmen regarding whether the funds should come from the trust or the budget from the town.
“It’s a bit of a gray area what’s the responsibility of the town and what’s the trustees,” Deborah Rogers, a member of the Board of Trustees, said. “I know what’s inside the building versus outside, but when it’s the actual building?”
The planned work ranges from landscaping to safety, and a lot in between.
Selectman Henry Kunhardt, whose background is as a civil engineer, led most of the discussion of the projects. Chairman Brad Howell was also present, but Selectman Abigail Arnold was not.
Kunhardt will go to the library personally to look at the work that needs to be done, especially to a stone wall in the basement, which he said is likely to have allowed mold to grow on nearby items.
The wall is not insulated, he explained, so it remains close to ground temperature, about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. That makes the dew point relatively low, leading to higher rates of condensation and moisture buildup near the wall.
He recommended moving and not replacing the wall board structure that rests against that face.
Rogers also voiced concern about a ledge that forms a border for the library’s back yard. Librarians want to use the space for more outdoor activities, but are afraid of children falling and getting hurt.
The selectmen agreed that the fence should fall into the trustees’ responsibility, not the town’s. They felt that it was not necessary because bushes could form a sufficient natural border.
Rogers said she will research regulations for the height of the fence and its distance from the ledge before requesting a quote.
Kunhardt joked that as a kid he used to jump off that ledge into the snow.
The library announced that it will be introducing new, extended hours, to make its resources more convenient for residents.
“I applaud you for being able to do more without spending any more of the budget,” Howell said.
According to Elizabeth Hunter Lavallee, chair of the board of trustees, the new hours will take effect after the Labor Day weekend, and will be officially announced in late-August.
In addition to library business, the board mentioned the Town Hall project funding effort led by grant-writer Barbara Miller. The board will give her an updated, accurate amount to try to raise to meet the budget demands.