2026

Pawlet Public Library Minutes, Pawlet Public Library ,141 School St, February 10,2026
Audience: Gordon Dossett- Manchester Journal, Will – Videographer PEG TV
Board members present: Cori Rail, Susan LaPorte, Lauren Herbert, Phoebe McChesney, Amy Miller
6:04pm Call to order by Cori
Operating norms read by Cori
Added Agenda Items: Pricing of copies at the library and discuss having slate Valley Seed Swap at the
Library. Motion by Lauren Second by Amy to Approve. Passed Unanimously
Public Comment: Gordon asked if there would be a decision after executive session. Cori answered that
we are planning to have an answer.
Approve Jan 13, 2026 and Jan 21, 2026 minutes. Motion by Phoebe and second by Lauren to approve
minutes. Passed Unanimously.
Treasurers Report by Lauren. Discussion of theFY 2026 and FY2027 budgets. Motion to Approve 2027
Budget with corrections by Amy. Second by Sue. Passed unanimously.
Discussion of the prices that libraries in Vermont charge for color and black and white copies.
Motion by Lauren to charge 15cents for black and white copies and 45cents for color copies. Second
By Amy. Passed Unaminously.
Motion to approve warrant of $ 8511.51 by Phoebe ,Second by Sue. Passed Unanimously.
630pm Motion 1 Moved, that the board finds, based on the advice of counsel ,that premature general
public knowledge of confidential attorney-client communications with Pawlet’s counsel concerning
pending litigation in the matter of Barnes v. Town of Pawlet, et.al. and made for the purpose of
providing professional legal services to the Town of Pawlet,would place the Board of Trustees and
Pawlet at a substantial disadvantage. Motion by Sue Second by Lauren. Passed Unanimously
Motion 2 Moved, That the Board go into executive pursuant to 1VSA s313(a)(1)(E) and (F) to receive
professional legal advice in the form of confidential attorney client communications with counsel for the
for the Town of Pawlet concerning pending litigation in the matter of Barnes v. Pawlet, et.al. Motion by
Sue Second by Lauren . Passed Unanimously. Into Executive Session 6:31 pm .
Motion to leave executive session 7:15pm with no decision by Sue Second by Lauren. Passed
Unanimously.
Into open meeting at 7:17pm. Motion by Sue: Due to the passage of time without acceptance of our
offer, I move to reopen the Library Director position.
Board Discussion of timeline, job description ,hiring committee focus, advertising.
Motion by Lauren .Second by Sue to have the full board as hiring committee. Passed unaminously. We
will be accepting applications until March 17,2026. Advertising of the position will go out asap to the

same places that we placed ads the last time. Cori and Amy will reword and freshen up the previous ad
wording.
Discussed a time clock. Motion by Sue. Second by Lauren For Cori to oversee research, purchase and
install a biometric time clock at the entrance of the library. Passed Unanimously.
Discussion of security cameras to be installed at the library. We will research cost and types of cameras.
Motion by Lauren. Second by Phoebe to extend temporary employee’s jobs for three more months.
Passed unanimously.
Slate Valley Seed Swap will be in early March. Consensus of the board is that we would love to have the
seed swap event at the library .Representative Chris Prichard will be having “Talk with your
representative” Feb 28 at the library.
Discussion of changing Board and opening staff email accounts to Google Work Space. Motion by Lauren
Second by Phoebe to have Cori set emails up and may spend up to $300 . Passed Unanimously.
Cori will report to the Select board February 17.
Cori read Reflection of Norms. We agreed that we did well following the norms.
Public Comment: Gordon asked if we could add any more than what we said in open meeting. We had
nothing to add.
Next Regular Meeting and Organizational Meeting :March 10,2026 6pm
8:35pm Motion to Adjourn by Phoebe. Second by Amy. Passed Unanimously.
Respectfully Submitted, Susan LaPorte, Temporary Minute Taker

Pawlet Public Board of Trustees Special Meeting Minutes
Wednesday,21 January 2026
Pawlet Public Library
141 School St, Pawlet, Vt 05761
Audience: Barbara O’Connor, Steve Williams, Gordon Dossett
Board Members Present: Cori Rail, Susan LaPorte, Lauren Herbert, Phoebe McChesney, Amy Miller
Call to Order by Cori at 6:03pm
Operating Norms by Cori
Public Comment : None
Motion by Amy : Proposed executive session pursuant to :
1VSAs 313(a)(3) for appointment, employment, or evaluation of a public officer or employee, to
discuss Library Director position and confidential attorney –client communications. Motion by Amy,
Second by Susan . Passed Unanimously
Enter Executive Session at 6:06pm
Motion to Leave Executive Session by Susan, Second by Phoebe .Passed unanimously. 6:33pm
Without making a decision
Enter Open Meeting 6:35pm
Motion by Susan , Second by Amy To authorize the Board Chair to communicate a deadline for
acceptance of the Library Director offer, consistent with the discussion held in executive session
Passed Unanimously.
Reflection of Operating Norms by Cori.
Public Comment : Gordon asked if we could more fully discuss our last motion. We could not at this
time.
Next Meeting:Tuesday, 10 February 2026 6:00pm
Motion to Adjourn by Phoebe, Second by Amy Passed Unanimously .Meeting Adjourned at 6:38pm
Respectfully Submitted, Susan LaPorte, Minute Taker for this meeting.

Meeting Minutes Pawlet Public Library, 141 School St Pawlet, VT
Tuesday January 13, 2026 6pm
Audience: Ann Marie Witt, Linda Linton, Gordon Dossett, Will with PEG TV, Bob Herbert, Cana Williams
Board Members Attending: Amy Miller, Phoebe Mc Chesney, Lauren Herbert, Susan LaPorte, Cori Rail,
Chair
Call to Order by Cori at 6:05pm
Operating Norms, Vision Statement and Mission Statement read by Cori
Addition/Deletion of agenda items: Date edit in item 17 from Feb 13 to Feb 10, Tuesday- for the next
meeting. Delete Agenda item #6. Motion by Lauren, Second by Amy .Passed unanimously.
Public Comment: A few questions from Gordon
Dec 2, 2025 and Jan 6,2026 motion to approve minutes by Lauren, Second by Sue . Passed
Unanimously.
Treasurer’s Report: Lauren lead discussion of the FY 2027 Budget Motion to Approve by Phoebe.
Second by Amy, Passed Unanimously
Lauren presented the Warrants to be signed: Motion by Sue , Second by Amy Passed Unanimously.
Library Report given by Cori. Wireless ,hand held scanner is being used to inventory the books. We will
talk more about security at the next meeting. Discussions with Northshire Play Group. Cori will get
more information.
Someone is interested in starting a Tech Time program for the library. Cori will look into that.
Letter from the Board to put into the Town Report Cori will write it. Amy will assist her with editing etc.
Robotics Update from Ann Marie Witt . Starts again 21 st of January ,3:30pm-5pm.
Cori will be meeting with Rhonda soon to talk with her about the Loop Hearing Aid system (accessibility)
Grant.
Lauren is on the MERP committee. She will be taking with Jessica Van Oort.
Motion 1)By Lauren: “I move that the board find that premature general public knowledge regarding the
discussion of a personnel matter would clearly place the individual or the entity involved at a substantial
disadvantage.” Second by Susan. Passed Unanimously.
Motion2) By Lauren;” I move that we enter into Executive Session pursuant to 1VSAs313(2)(3) for the
appointment, employment, or evaluation of a public officer or employee, to discuss hiring documents
and confidential attorney-client communications.” Second by Susan. Passed Unanimously.