Glen Ridge Library Facility Report Flags Water Damage as Board Reviews 7.28% Budget Increase

An architect's assessment of the Glen Ridge Public Library presented at the November 13, 2024 Board of Trustees meeting found the building in overall good shape but identified several needed repairs, including two spots of water intrusion, minor damage to attic support beams, an old rear chimney that needs to be capped, a missing duct damper in the technical room, electrical panel updates, and cracks in the front steps that need caulking. The report came from architect Daniel Kopec as part of a broader facility review.

The board also reviewed an initial 2025 budget plan totaling $944,836, a 7.28% increase over the current year, driven largely by a 13.51% jump in employee benefits and the restoration of staff hours to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Collections spending would rise 6.55% and programming 9.38% under the plan. Separately, year-to-date figures through the third quarter showed the library well behind its own budget expectations, with appropriation revenue at only about 80% of the budgeted amount and salary spending running around 78% of budget, including a $132,810 revenue shortfall in the most recent reporting period. Treasurer David Lefkovits also noted that $4,000 previously counted as revenue from the Friends of the Glen Ridge Library was overstated and will instead be redirected to the library's Raymond Fund.

In brighter news, the library learned it will receive the Suburban Essex Chamber of Commerce's 2025 Community Service Award, to be presented at a banquet on March 27, 2025, with Bernice Bonnett and Tina Marie Doody attending. The library also received a $5,807 grant from the Essex County 2025 Local History Program to buy archival-safe storage materials for historical documents, and finalized design finishes for a Children's Room renovation with Creative Library Concepts, with installation expected in spring 2025. The library's "Your Library, Your Voice" strategic planning survey closed with 831 completed responses — about 10% of the borough's population — with 90% of respondents rating the library excellent or very good; a committee meeting to review the results was set for November 20th. The Friends of the Library's second Shredding Day fundraiser, held October 26th at the Central School, raised $1,171. Staff also completed installation of new second-floor carpeting on November 7th and 8th, replacing a bubbling section that had been flagged as a safety hazard, and the board approved changes to the 2024 holiday calendar, including a delayed opening on December 6th for a staff holiday party. The board also approved the October 2024 bills list, which included carpet cleaning and Children's Room furniture costs. Separately, director Doody reported ongoing network outages possibly caused by faulty equipment from the regional library computer network BCCLS, which staff are monitoring for possible replacement. The board also went into a closed executive session at 9:20 p.m., moved by Geoffrey Darby and seconded by Marilyn Law, returning at 9:32 p.m. on a motion by Bernice Bonnett and Marilyn Law; no topic was disclosed. Board members Damein Phoenix and Deanna Pagano were absent and recorded no vote on the final adjournment motion, which all other members present approved.

What to watch

• The Strategic Planning Committee meets November 20th to review the full survey results.
• Daniel Kopec is scheduled to present findings from an acoustic study at the library's December 11th meeting.
• The director's annual evaluation, including self-evaluation and trustee feedback, is expected to be finalized in early December.