Glen Ridge Library Building Project on Track for April Opening, Board Welcomes New Trustees

The Glen Ridge Public Library's new chiller unit was installed on December 29th using a crane to lift it over the building, but the Director reported that connection costs are running higher than expected and is now checking whether the town will help cover the difference.

The larger building construction project is in better shape financially, coming in under budget overall, with furniture deliveries split between February and March ahead of a grand opening targeted for early April. The library has only had to close two days during construction, though a bathroom failed inspection because of a fan that wasn't working. To furnish the new young adult area, the Board approved $12,870.80 for a screen, projector, and speakers, plus $897.25 for signage, both paid from grant money. Separately, the Board approved $5,632.50 to repair, replace, and relocate security cameras, also from the grant budget, and hired JanPro Cleaning for $1,999 to handle construction-related cleaning.

The meeting opened with new trustees J. Edward Kastenmeier and Marilyn Law being sworn in, replacing outgoing members Carol Harpster and Harry Rush. The Board then elected its 2024 officers: Bernice Bonnett as President, Geoffrey Darby as Vice President, David Lefkovits as Treasurer, and Deanna Pagano as Secretary, on an 8-aye vote with Damein Phoenix absent. Board President Bonnett also announced plans to survey trustees about committee preferences, including forming a new strategic planning committee and possibly naming a liaison to the Friends of the Library group.

The Friends of the Library's annual fundraising appeal brought in $17,839, beating its $15,000 goal, and the group is looking at spending roughly $11,000 in concert proceeds to add another set of package pickup lockers, which saw 673 uses in December alone and about 5,000 for the year. The Friends and the Kiwanis Club also announced they are co-sponsoring a concert by saxophonist and Glen Ridge resident Kenny Garrett at SOPAC on March 2nd.

In other business, the library's Verizon wi-fi contract has been ended now that the library is using new wi-fi service through BCCLS (Bergen County Cooperative Library System). The Board tabled its choice of an auditor until it can get more details on variable hourly rates and client lists from candidate firm Klein. Meeting minutes from December 13th were approved 6-0, with Marilyn Law and Edward Kastenmeier abstaining, and minutes from a December 23rd special meeting were approved 5-0, with Law, Kastenmeier, and Deanna Pagano abstaining. The Board also approved a package of eight routine annual resolutions covering things like purchasing rules, professional service appointments, and check-signing authority.

Financially, the Treasurer noted a large payment to GJG Construction and the start of a new Mango Languages subscription in the December bills, and reported that while material spending overall came in at 90% of budget for the year, the Children's department slightly exceeded its material budget, and gifts and donations came in 50% above forecast. The library also completed its first test transfer of $10,000 into a new Cash Management Fund. The Director's report also named "Lessons in Chemistry" and "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" as the library's most popular fiction titles of 2023.

What to watch

• A decision on whether the town will cover the chiller connection cost overrun has not yet been finalized.
• The young adult area's grand opening is anticipated for early April, pending final furniture delivery dates.