Library Director Ryan told trustees on March 13 that he has begun drafting an employment contract and expects to circulate a draft by April for review by the town administrator and labor counsel, with the goal of finalizing contract terms so a contract could take effect with the fiscal year on July 1.

Ryan said he has completed several pages of the contract, including indemnification language, and will send the draft to Town Administrator Mark Purple and Assistant Town Administrator Vanessa Hale for review with labor counsel. He told trustees the intention is to present a contract for trustees’ approval in June so the library could convert to a contract appointment on the July fiscal-year mark.

In the director’s report Ryan also said he had signed accounting paperwork for a $150,000 turnback that had been approved at town meeting. He and staff described the town-meeting handout and presentation plans: the handout will be more qualitative this year and the on-site presentation will be brief (five to six slides) and include an award presentation (the Peggy Tuttle award). Kim Reagan is helping compile the handout; Friends materials will be included in complementary places in the handout and presentation.

Trustees discussed the annual director evaluation timeline. Ryan said he will submit a self-evaluation by April; trustees agreed to collect feedback and complete the evaluation process ahead of the proposed June contract approval. Trustees noted that even under a multi-year contract they intend to continue an annual evaluation and to produce written performance reviews.

On operations, Ryan reported computer hardware issues: a staff laptop monitor was broken after being dropped and Information Technology will replace the unit. He said the library is planning to replace public PCs this fiscal year but that supply-chain delays could push hardware delivery past June.

Ending: Trustees asked staff to circulate the contract draft when ready and to provide the director’s self-evaluation in April so the board can complete evaluations and, if appropriate, act on a contract in June.