Bill Library  
718 Colonel Ledyard Highway  
Ledyard, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Library Commission  
Gales Ferry Library  
18 Hurlbutt Road  
Gales Ferry, Connecticut 06335  
Meeting Minutes - Draft Minutes  
Chair  
John Bolduc  
Regular Meeting  
7:00 PM  
Monday, August 18, 2025  
Bill Library  
I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
The Meeting was called to order by Chair Bolduc at 7:00p.m.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Chairperson John Bolduc  
Present  
Recording Secretary Ellin Grenger  
Commissioner Barbara Candler  
Treasurer Ralph Hightower  
Commissioner Elizabeth Rumery  
Vice Chair Rolf Racich  
Commissioner Cynthia Wright  
Commissioner Wendy Hellekson  
Commissioner Peter Diette  
Excused  
In addition, the following were present:  
Ambrosia Lavallee, Library Director  
Carmen Garcia, Town Council Liasion  
In addition, the following were present:  
Ambrosia Lavallee,  
Library Director  
Carmen Garcia,  
Town Council Liasion  
III.  
IV.  
RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS  
None  
PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS  
None  
V.  
MEMBER COMMENTS  
Committee Member Wendy Hellekson informed us that the Preston Town Library is looking for  
a librarian  
VI.  
1.  
REPORTS  
Treasurer’s Report  
Treasurer’s Report  
Because there was no activity in July for any account there was no Treasurer's Report.  
Director’s Report  
2.  
Director’s Report  
Ms.Lavallee presented the Director's report  
Library news:  
1. Staffing Updates  
• Stephanie Akers has resigned from her position as Library Associate due to health reasons.  
• Amanda Marcelynas, a Ledyard community member and library patron, will begin training as a  
new Library Associate on August 13.  
• Sarah Desormier will return to the Ledyard Library as a substitute-only staff member.  
2. Legislative Compliance – Bill No. 1271  
• Requires updates to the Collection Development & Maintenance Policy, Library Display &  
Program Policy, and Materials Review & Reconsideration Policy by Oct 1, 2025.  
• Drafts are underway, with updates to the Collection Development and Materials Review  
policies already completed.  
3. Programming and Events  
• Summer Reading had 330 registrations and 2,300+ adventures logged.  
• Fall programs planned include:  
o Bookbinding workshop  
o Victorian tea event  
o “Dying to meet you” Funeral home presentation  
4. Collection Development & Weeding  
• Transitioning primary book ordering to Ingram to address B&T vendor delays; staff feedback  
mostly positive, final assessment pending.  
• Nonfiction weeding underway at both branches  
5. Social Media  
• Drue has significantly improved social media presence, contributing to increased program  
attendance.  
• Assistant librarians note patrons have mentioned they learned about recent events via Drue’s  
cross-posting on community pages.  
6. Annual Report  
• Preparation progressing steadily.  
7. Building  
• Public works ripped out the weeds from the side of Bill, and planted Wild Flower seeds.  
MOTION: To lower the number of monthly Hoopla checkouts from 4 to 3.  
Moved by John Bolduc seconded by Rolf Racich.  
VOTE: 8-0-0 Approved and so declared.  
Motion: To disband consortium working group  
3.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
John Bolduc  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Rolf Racich  
SECONDER:  
8
1
Bolduc Grenger Candler Hightower Rumery Racich Wright Hellekson  
Diette  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Investment Working Group  
Investment Working Group  
4.  
5.  
Sal Tocco from Janney reviewed the performance of the Bill Association accounts for the second quarte  
2025. He discussed the managers of each account and the top holdings for each account. While the Russ  
1000 Value was up 4.89% year to date the combined Janney Funds were up 6.28%. The Working Group i  
satisfied with the results.  
Consortium Working Group  
Consortium Working Group  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Rolf Racich  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Ralph Hightower  
SECONDER:  
8
1
Bolduc Grenger Candler Hightower Rumery Racich Wright Hellekson  
Diette  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Friends of the Ledyard Library  
6.  
7.  
Friends of the Ledyard Library  
Wendy provided an update but no formal report read at this time.  
Wendy provided an update but no formal report read at this time.  
VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
MOTION to approve the library commission regular meeting minutes of June16,2025  
1.  
Approval of meeting minutes..end  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Ralph Hightower  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Elizabeth Rumery  
SECONDER:  
7
1
1
Bolduc Grenger Candler Rumery Racich Wright Hellekson  
AYE  
Diette  
EXCUSED  
ABSTAIN  
Hightower  
VIII. OLD BUSINESS  
NONE  
Any old business proper to come before the Commission.  
1.  
Any old business proper to come before the Commission.  
NONE  
IX.  
1.  
NEW BUSINESS  
Any new business proper to come before the Commission.  
Any new business proper to come before the Commission.  
Motion to update the Donations and Girft Policy  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Ralph Hightower  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Rolf Racich  
SECONDER:  
8
1
Bolduc Grenger Candler Hightower Rumery Racich Wright Hellekson  
Diette  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
X.  
NEXT MEETING  
Next Commission to be held September 15, 2025 at 7:00pm, at the Gales Ferry Library  
XI.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Motion to Adjourn.  
The Meeting Adjourned at 7:38p.m.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Wright, seconded by Commissioner Hellekson, that this  
was Approved and so declared.. The motion carried by the following vote:  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Cynthia Wright  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Wendy Hellekson  
SECONDER:  
8
1
Bolduc Grenger Candler Hightower Rumery Racich Wright Hellekson  
Diette  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.