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, June 16, 2025  
Gales Ferry Library  
I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
Chairman Bolduc called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Ledyard - Gales Ferry Library.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Chairperson John Bolduc  
Present  
Commissioner Barbara Candler  
Commissioner Elizabeth Rumery  
Vice Chair Rolf Racich  
Commissioner Cynthia Wright  
Recording Secretary Ellin Grenger  
Treasurer Ralph Hightower  
Commissioner Peter Diette  
Commissioner Wendy Hellekson  
Excused  
In addition, the following were present:  
Ambrosia Lavallee - Library Director  
Carmen Garcia- Town Council Liaison  
Chairperson John Bolduc  
Present  
Recording Secretary Ellin Grenger  
Commissioner Barbara Candler  
Treasurer Ralph Hightower  
Commissioner Elizabeth Rumery  
Vice Chair Rolf Racich  
Commissioner Peter Diette  
Commissioner Cynthia Wright  
Commissioner Wendy Hellekson  
III.  
RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS  
None  
IV.  
PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS  
None  
V.  
1.  
2.  
MEMBER COMMENTS  
Discussion  
Community Relations Committee – John has been invited to attend the Farmer’s Market to  
represent the library.  
VI.  
1.  
REPORTS  
Treasurer’s Report  
Treasurer Hightower was excused from meeting. There was no activity in each of the three  
accounts.  
Director’s Report  
(type text here)  
2.  
Ms.Lavallee Presented the Director's Report.  
Budget News:  
● Ledyard Lion Grant of $500 deposited into account.  
Library News:  
May 22 - Staff Development Meeting  
● All staff attended.  
● The meeting went well.  
● Staff were given the opportunity a month in advance to add agenda items to a  
shared Google Drive.  
● Discussion topics included: ○ Ideas for more effective communication  
○ Suggestions for improving overall morale  
○ Re-training staff in shelving  
○ Policy refreshers: each staff person will restudy current policies  
● Each Assistant Librarian presented their summer reading programming.  
Social Media  
● Spoke with the Assistant Librarians about designating 2 working hours per  
week to a staff member for managing social media posts about events and  
programming.  
○ This role would help inform the public about programming and  
potentially increase library usage.  
○ The 2 hours would come from the unused hours left vacant after Ray’s  
departure.  
○ Assistant Librarians were in favor of the idea.  
■ They liked the plan of emailing post content to one person, who would then  
handle formatting and scheduling through Meta.  
● Spoke with Drue about taking on the role; he was interested.  
2025 Previous month’s checkout statistics for Bill and GF  
BILL CHK OUTS  
2,655  
GF CHK OUTS  
2,019  
April 2025  
May 2025  
2,209  
2,158  
2024 (MAY) Checkout stat’s for Bill and GF  
BILL CHK OUTS GF CHK OUTS  
2,219 1,728  
May 2024  
Building News:  
● A new bulletin board (exclusive for library programming) has been added to the  
Bill Library hallway.  
Investment Working Group  
None  
3.  
4.  
5.  
Consortium Working Group  
None  
Friends of the Ledyard Library  
None  
VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Chairperson John Bolduc  
Present  
Commissioner Barbara Candler  
Commissioner Elizabeth Rumery  
Vice Chair Rolf Racich  
Commissioner Cynthia Wright  
Recording Secretary Ellin Grenger  
Treasurer Ralph Hightower  
Excused  
Commissioner Peter Diette  
Commissioner Wendy Hellekson  
Motion to approve the Library Commission regular meeting minutes of May 19,2025  
Motion to approve the Library Commission regular meeting minutes of May 19,2025  
1.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Rolf Racich  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Elizabeth Rumery  
SECONDER:  
4
4
1
Bolduc Candler Rumery Racich  
Grenger Hightower Diette Hellekson  
Wright  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
ABSTAIN  
VIII. OLD BUSINESS  
Approval of Meeting Room Regulations  
Approval of Meeting Room Regulations  
1.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Elizabeth Rumery  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Cynthia Wright  
SECONDER:  
5
4
Bolduc Candler Rumery Racich Wright  
Grenger Hightower Diette Hellekson  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Discuss and vote on creating an annual appeal procedure  
Discuss and vote on creating an annual appeal procedure  
2.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Elizabeth Rumery  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Cynthia Wright  
SECONDER:  
5
4
Bolduc Candler Rumery Racich Wright  
Grenger Hightower Diette Hellekson  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Any Old Business proper to come before the Commission  
3.  
Any Old Business proper to come before the Commission  
GF District meeting was attended by Ms. Rumery and Ms. Lavallee  
IX.  
1.  
NEW BUSINESS  
Discussion on Federal library funding education  
Discussion on Federal library funding education  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
Approval of the FY26 Library Commission “Either” and “GF” Investment accounts  
Approval of the FY26 Library Commission “Either” and “GF” Investment accounts  
2.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Rolf Racich  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Cynthia Wright  
SECONDER:  
5
4
Bolduc Candler Rumery Racich Wright  
Grenger Hightower Diette Hellekson  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Any New Business proper to come before the Commission  
3.  
Any New Business proper to come before the Commission  
None  
X.  
NEXT MEETING  
Next Meeting date, August 18, at 7:00 will be held at the Bill Library.  
XI.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Mr. Raiche moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded  
by Ms. Wright.  
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.  
VOTE: 5-0-0 Approved and so declared  
A motion was made by Vice Chair Racich, seconded by Commissioner Wright, that this be  
Approved and so declared. The motion carried by the following vote:  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Rolf Racich  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Cynthia Wright  
SECONDER:  
5
4
Bolduc Candler Rumery Racich Wright  
Grenger Hightower Diette Hellekson  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.