Diplomacy called for in negotiations between selectmen & library board

MEREDITH — With a draft "Statement of Understanding" from the Library Board of Trustees in hand, the Board of Selectmen began the process of placing the relationship between the town and the library on an even keel at a workshop yesterday.

In a cover letter Rhetta Colon, who chairs the trustees of the library, expressed "hopes that the board will understand that this is the first step in a back-and-forth process in completing the final document."

The current relationship dates to February, 1993 when, at the recommendation of the town manager and financial officer, the trustees agreed to transfer payroll and bookkeeping services "for all monies generated by the town's tax revenue which were given to the library" to the town. The library director and trustees track all spending and approve all bills, including payroll, before submitting them to the town for payment. The trustees create a separate budget for expenditures from trust funds, private donations and fee income.

Town Manager Phil Warren noted that the trustees agree to be "guided" by the personnel policy of the town, but with the exceptions that the trustees, through the director, oversee the management of all library personnel and reserve the right to retain and adopt policies different from those of the town. Warren called this provision "problematic."

Selectmen Lou Kahn, who also serves as a Trustee of the Trust Funds, questioned the authority of library trustees manage trust funds and investments, referring to state statutes that provide that unless specified by the donor, the authority to manage such such is vested in the trustees of the trust funds.

Kahn was also troubled by an expectation that the town should "continue to fund the operating expenses of the library at a level consistent with the type and size of a public library appropriate to Meredith," which he found "really vague." Nor did he accept a presumption that the selectmen have agreed to set aside funds for the expansion or renovation of the library or that the board was bound to accept recommendations of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Committee to spend or reserve funds for maintenance of the library.

Calling the draft "long overdue," Selectman Peter Brothers reminded his colleagues that "this is a first draft." While he acknowledged "we can't be doing one thing for library employees and another thing for town employees," the differences and details would have to be resolved in "eyeball to eyeball meetings" between the library trustees and selectmen. He urged the board to "get off on a positive foot," but conceded "it's not going to be an easy road."

Former selectman Jim Hughes cautioned that agreement would require "diplomacy" and "give and take on both sides."

NOTES: When the Board of Selectmen met yesterday, Town Manager Phil Warren noted that all town roads have been posted and vehicles of more than six tons require a permit from the Department of Public Works. He again reminded residents and contractors not to plow, blow or shovel snow into the public right-of-way then proclaimed "there will be no more snow." . . . . . . Warren said that the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DOT) intends to pave 4.8 miles of Rte. 25 from the junction with Rte. 3 in Meredith to the Center Harbor-Moultonborough town line and 1.7 miles of Winona Road from NH Route 14 north to Waukewan Road. However, he said that DOT has apparently abandoned Meredith Neck Road and Barnard Ridge Road, both unnumbered state roads since 1940s. Warren said that Chris Clement, the commissioner of DOT, has said that neither road belongs in the state highway system and the department will not improve roads not in the system. Warren noted that Meredith Neck Road "is getting to the point where it could be deemed hazardous" and urged the town not "back off" in pressing the DOT to undertake improvements.