Library ask lowered by $3,900; board debates staff raises above town baseline

Selectboard members reviewed a revised operating request from the town library that reduced the town contribution by $3,900 to $54,840 after increased fundraising and a larger Friends contribution. Board members said the bottom-line ask had been recalculated to correct duplicated accounting entries and to increase anticipated fundraising targets.

The board also considered the library's recommendation for a 5% pay increase for library staff even though the town has set a 3% townwide raise. A library representative said the request reflected efforts to bring staff pay to the low end of the state average for comparable positions: "the library staff... fall below that. So we're just trying to get them up to even the low end," the representative said. Members noted that replacing staff at market rates could cost considerably more and discussed whether to approve the higher raise specifically for library employees.

Board members did not take a final vote on the raise during the session; they asked staff to provide a line-by-line project rundown before the official town report is finalized so the board can assess fundraising, Friends contributions and the operating request in context.