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, December 16, 2024  
Gales Ferry Library  
Gales Ferry Library  
I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
Chair Bolduc called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Gales Ferry Library.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Chairman John Bolduc  
Present  
Commissioner Barbara Candler  
Treasurer Ralph Hightower  
Vice Chair Elizabeth Rumery  
Commissioner Rolf Racich  
Commissioner Peter Diette  
Commissioner Cynthia Wright  
Commissioner Wendy Hellekson  
Secretary Ellin Grenger  
Late  
In addition, the following were present:  
Jennifer Smith - Library Director  
Carmen Garcia-Irizarry - Town Council Liaison  
III.  
RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS  
None.  
IV.  
1.  
PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS  
Welcome Wendy Hellekson  
Ms. Hellekson introduced herself and shared a bit about her background. She has her Bachelors  
in Psychology, a Masters in ESL and Library Science. She is currently the School Librarian at  
Gallup Hill School in Ledyard and bring lots of teaching and school experience to the  
Commission.  
At the Town Council’s October 23, 2024 meeting the following Members were reappointed to  
the Library Commission:  
2.  
• Mr. Ralph Hightower  
• Mr. Rolf Racich  
• Mr. Peter Diette  
V.  
MEMBER COMMENTS  
None.  
VI.  
1.  
REPORTS  
Treasurer's Report  
Mr. Hightower reported on the November Treasurer's Report. Library Commission budget:  
November received $140 in donations from Commissioners in honor of Rebecca Nash and  
another donor. Reported expenses of $1,387.82.  
Library Investment Funds - No activity for Either Library account or the Gales Ferry Library  
account.  
Director's Report  
2.  
Ms. Smith presented the December Director's report.  
Budget News:  
• I’ve put together the proposed FY2026 library budget that we will review tonight.  
Library News:  
• Staffing two buildings continues to be a challenge with only 15 staff members. I think having  
an additional Library Associate on staff to assist with coverage will be beneficial. The job has  
been posted and we will be reviewing applications in the coming weeks.  
• Our circulating board game collection went “live” at the end of November. We are starting  
small using a combination of donated games and a few new games that were purchased with the  
Toy Library grant. Staff have picked up on the new circulation procedures well and I am grateful  
for a team open to these changes and new initiatives.  
Building News:  
• We ordered 6 new adjustable tables for the Bill Library meeting room using the investment  
funds. The 4 gray tables from Bill that were purchased with funding from the Friends will move  
over to Gales Ferry. This will update both meeting spaces and better meet staff and public needs.  
Investment Working Group  
3.  
4.  
5.  
Mr. Bolduc reported that the group will be meeting in January, 2025.  
Consortium Working Group  
Mr. Racich reported that the group will be meeting in January, 2025.  
Friends of the Ledyard Library  
Mr. Bolduc reported that the Snowflake Festival results are pending.  
VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of the Library Commission meeting from  
1.  
November 18, 2024.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
RESULT:  
Rolf Racich  
MOVER:  
Cynthia Wright  
SECONDER:  
9
Bolduc Grenger Candler Hightower Rumery Racich Diette Wright  
Hellekson  
AYE  
VIII. OLD BUSINESS  
XI.  
1.  
NEW BUSINESS  
Motion to approve the proposed FY2026 Library budget.  
Motion to amend to approve a 2.5% increase for the Library Associates based on  
anticipated cost of living increases over the next year.  
Moved by Ms. Grenger, seconded by Mr. Racich.  
VOTE: 9-0 approved and so declared.  
Motion to amend to restore the Library Page position for up to 15 hours per pay period at  
$16.35/hour.  
Moved by Mr. Racich, seconded by Ms. Rumery.  
VOTE: 9-0 approved and so declared.  
Motion to amend to approve an hourly rate of $22.44 for the Sunday Supervisor.  
Moved by Mr. Diette, seconded by Ms. Grenger.  
VOTE: 9-0 approved and so declared.  
Motion to amend to approve a $1,000 increase based on need to supplement  
programming budget, particularly for children.  
Moved by Mr. Racich, seconded by Ms. Wright.  
VOTE: 9-0 approved and so declared.  
Motion to amend to approve $31.00 increase to budget for annual renewal of domain  
name.  
Moved by Ms. Wright, seconded by Ms. Hellekson  
VOTE: 9-0 approved and so declared.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Elizabeth Rumery  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Rolf Racich  
SECONDER:  
9
Bolduc Grenger Candler Hightower Rumery Racich Diette Wright  
Hellekson  
AYE  
Motion to approve the following Library Commission slate of officers for 2025:  
Mr. John Bolduc - Chair  
2.  
Mr. Rolf Racich - Vice Chair  
Mr. Ralph Hightower - Treasurer  
Ms. Ellin Grenger - Secretary  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Peter Diette  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Cynthia Wright  
SECONDER:  
9
Bolduc Grenger Candler Hightower Rumery Racich Diette Wright  
Hellekson  
AYE  
X.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Mr. Hightower moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Ms. Grenger.  
The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m.  
VOTE: 9-0 Approved and so declared  
The next Library Commission meeting is scheduled for January 27, 2025 at the Bill Library.  
Respectively Submitted,  
_______________________________  
John Bolduc  
Commission Chair  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.