Bill Library

718 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Library Commission

Meeting Minutes

Gales Ferry Library

18 Hurlbutt Road

Gales Ferry, Connecticut 06335

Chair

John Bolduc

Regular Meeting

7:00 PM

Monday, October 20, 2025

Bill Library

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Bolduc called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

II.

ROLL CALL

In addition, the following were present:

Christine Dias, Ledyard Human Resource Director

Stacey Burt, Assistant Librarian 1, Youth Services

Chairperson John Bolduc

Recording Secretary Ellin Grenger

Treasurer Ralph Hightower

Vice Chair Rolf Racich

Present

Chairman Cynthia Wright

Chairman Wendy Hellekson

Chairman Elizabeth Rumery

Chairman Peter Diette

Excused

III.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

IV.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Human Resources Update

The Commission and Ms. Dias reviewed the procedure being used to identify and hire the new

Library Director. Wendy Hellekson will be the Commission’s representative on the town’s

hiring committee. The Library Commission will form an ad-hoc subcommittee to review

qualified applicants as forwarded by Human Resources. Ms. Wright, Ms. Hellekson and Mr.

Racich will serve on this committee.

Ms. Burt presented a year-by-year statistical review of library usage. Traffic, usage and

attendance have increased in both branches by many metrics, while computer station and Wi-Fi

use decreased as compared to FY 2024. The youth programs in particular showed a substantial

increase.

The details of her report:

Physical item circulation was up to 81,621 items (up 4% from FY24)

Digital item circulation was up to 30,517 items (up 9.37% from FY24)

Total circulation was up to 112,138 items (up 5.35% from FY24)

We had 26,217 patron visits at Bill (up 4.93% from FY24)

We had 19,577 patron visits at Gales Ferry (up 13.55% from FY24)

We had a total of 45,794 patron visits (up 8.93% from FY24)

Hours open were the same

Bill PC usage was 2,145 (up 2.5% from FY24)

GF PC usage was 1,452 (down 7.23% from FY24)

Total PC usage was 3,597 (down 1.43% from FY24)

Bill WiFi usage was 13,479 (down 16.39% from FY24)

GF WiFi Usage was 7,370 (down 17.2% from FY24)

Total WiFi usage was 20,849 (down 16.67% from FY24)

We gave out 2,937 seed packets at Bill (down 10.55% from FY2024)

We gave out 1,127 seed packets at Gales Ferry (up 27.10% from FY2024)

We gave out 4,064 seed packets in total (down 4.5% from FY2024, effectively no

change)

Total volunteer hours equaled 837 hours for FY 25. Seed library, shelve and mend

books, help with fundraisers

We hosted 102 adult programs (10.8% down from FY24)

We had 658 adult program attendees (down 16.39% from FY24)

We hosted 265 youth programs (5.24% up from FY24)

We had 6,715 youth program attendees (30.9% up from FY 24)

In addition to the position of Library Director, two other positions need to be filled. The

Library will hire a new Library Assistant and a new Library Associate.

MEMBER COMMENTS

None

VI.

REPORTS

Treasurer’s Report

Report attached to agenda was reviewed, noting that there may still be some discrepancies in

funds between the town’s ledger and report.

Director’s Report

None.

Ledyard Library FY2025 Annual Report

Tabled until next meeting.

Investment Working Group

The group met with our financial planner, and all funds outperformed the market during the third

quarter.

MOTION to approve moving the management of the William Holton Memorial Fund 2 from the

manager of the Cambiar Large Cap fund to the manager of the Putnam US Large Cap Value fund

Concentrated as suggested by the financial planner based on review of returns.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Ralph Hightower

RESULT:

MOVER:

Rolf Racich

SECONDER:

Bolduc Grenger Hightower Racich Wright Hellekson

Rumery Diette

AYE

EXCUSED

Friends of the Ledyard Library

Funding proposal for FY 25-26 of $18,310 is ready to be presented to the incoming director.

Book sale yielded net proceeds of $2,865.00

FOLL offers many opportunities for volunteer library engagement, and there is an identified

need for volunteers from now through November 22nd, at the Snowflake Festival.

VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to approve the Library Commission Regular Meeting Minutes September 15, 2025

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Rolf Racich

RESULT:

MOVER:

Ralph Hightower

SECONDER:

Bolduc Grenger Hightower Racich Wright Hellekson

Rumery Diette

AYE

EXCUSED

Motion to approve the Library Commission Special Meeting Minutes September 22, 2025

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Wendy Hellekson

RESULT:

MOVER:

Ellin Grenger

SECONDER:

Bolduc Grenger Hightower Racich Wright Hellekson

Rumery Diette

AYE

EXCUSED

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

Any old business proper to come before the Commission.

None.

IX.

NEW BUSINESS

Motion to approve the Library Commission meeting schedule, 1/26 - 1/27

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Cynthia Wright

RESULT:

MOVER:

Rolf Racich

SECONDER:

Bolduc Grenger Hightower Racich Wright Hellekson

Rumery Diette

AYE

EXCUSED

Discussion of moving Gales Ferry meeting space, as will be required to an ADA compliant

meeting area, or otherwise be offered be conducted as hybrid meetings.

Motion to approve the Holiday Closing Schedule July 25 - July 26

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Ellin Grenger

RESULT:

MOVER:

Cynthia Wright

SECONDER:

Bolduc Grenger Hightower Racich Wright Hellekson

Rumery Diette

AYE

EXCUSED

Reappointments of members

Reappointment of Commission Members Grenger, Wright, Rumery, and Bolduc. Town Council

is voting on a nomination at its next meeting to fill the vacancy left by Ms. Candler’s expiration

of her term

Any new business proper to come before the Commission.

None.

NEXT MEETING

Next Meeting

XI.

ADJOURNMENT

Ms. Grenger moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded

by Mr. Racich.

The meeting adjourned at 7:57 p.m.

VOTE: 7-0 Approved and so declared

Respectively Submitted,