Burst Chiller Pipe and Rodent Problem Top Glen Ridge Library Board's March Agenda

The Glen Ridge Public Library Board of Trustees dealt with a burst pipe on the library's chiller system, which failed over the winter. Sander Mechanical evaluated the damage and will order parts for the repair, with the cost to show up on the March bills list. Ms. Doody said she plans to ask the service company why the pipes weren't flushed and drained ahead of winter to prevent this kind of damage.

The Board also approved spending up to $1,000 to hire a pest control company after warmer weather brought on a rodent problem at the library. The approval, based on a $950 estimate, covers three treatments along with gap-filling and door sweeps meant to keep rodents out going forward.

In routine business, the Board approved the February 2026 bills list, totaling $76,096.32, of which $58,233.69 came from the Borough's appropriation. That total included $2,750 spent on upgrading interior lighting to LED, a cost that will be reimbursed under a state library construction grant. The library also finished hiring and training three new part-time substitute staff, two with experience at other libraries in the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS) and one a former bookseller, and completed its transition to a new health insurance plan for its three full-time employees, though physical insurance cards were delayed and staff are using electronic cards in the meantime.

On facilities and technology, a Building and Grounds Committee is developing an outdoor library sign, 3 feet by 5 inches with an aluminum frame and compliant lighting, which will need approval from the borough's Historical Preservation Commission before installation; the Friends of the Library have set aside funds to help pay for it. Separately, installation of foot-traffic counting devices at the library's front door and Children's Room door remains on hold pending a vendor installation date.

Ms. Doody reported that trustee training rules are changing, and each Trustee will now need to complete two hours of training annually. She also said the library submitted its 2025 state report and state aid application, worth roughly $4,000 a year to the library, which required certification signatures from Ms. Doody and Ms. Clark-Bonnett. Because Mr. Lefkovits was absent, the Board postponed formal acceptance of the February Treasurer's Report, which showed year-to-date spending at about 21% of budget, dividend income of $2,054.79, and a cash balance of $355,364 in the state's cash management fund. The library's annual audit is underway, with no issues identified so far.

Ms. Velechko met with former Trustee Geoffrey Darby to review last year's building assessment and begin outlining possible improvements over the next five years. New Communications Manager Cass Lauer will attend a webinar on short-form video for libraries, and a short video about the library's Talking Book and Braille Center display is expected to be posted online. Ms. Doody attended the joint New Jersey Library Association/New Jersey Association of School Librarians conference in Atlantic City in February, where she spoke on a panel about providing free period products in libraries. She also flagged a federal bill that would ban certain books from school libraries receiving federal funding, noting it doesn't directly apply to public libraries but could discourage them from displaying or buying certain materials.

Trustees also discussed two BCCLS reports on the consortium's value and cybersecurity; Ms. Doody confirmed the Borough runs employee cybersecurity training twice a year and that the library depends entirely on the BCCLS network. The Friends of the Library re-elected Gordon Leavitt as president, named a new treasurer, and will take part in the Art & Eco Fair on May 16, 2026, with Mr. Kastenmeier bringing "Ike the Bike." The library also plans to mark its 20th anniversary as a member of the 78-library BCCLS consortium. Finally, Ms. Law proposed creating an onboarding document for new Trustees, prompting discussion of Board operations and appointment procedures; Ms. Doody agreed to circulate the existing Trustee manual, and Ms. Law will share her draft document.

What to watch

• The Treasurer's Report for February is expected to come up for formal acceptance at the April meeting.
• A draft audit report is expected to be presented at the May meeting.
• The Historical Preservation Commission will need to weigh in on the proposed outdoor library sign before it can move forward.
• Ms. Velechko's five-year building improvement outline is expected to be presented to the Board at a future meeting.