Library Board Raises Promotional Budget to $10,000

Library Board · Meeting of October 19, 2026

Newington's Library Board of Trustees voted to raise its yearly promotional budget from $2,000 to $10,000 and add $4,000 more for near-term printing costs. Member Kristopher Riley, who chairs the Facility and Site Committee, said volunteers gave away roughly 62 promotional bags, 90 bookmarks and 96 trifolds at the October 3 Waterfall Festival alone. President Diane Stamm, reading for absent Treasurer LeeAnn Manke, reported the library's combined investment portfolio at $3,302,892 and a 5K race profit of about $20,700.

Friends of the Library representative Natalie Harbeson said the group is switching banks "so that we will not have to deal with some of the picky stuff" Webster Bank required, and reported 350 paid members and 68 vendors signed for the November 8 Adult Craft Fair. Both budget motions passed on unanimous voice votes.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,479 words

Source: the Library Board meeting of October 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

Roll Call And Town Council Liaison Update

The October 19 meeting convened with roll call showing Treasurer LeeAnn Manke and member George Bernocco absent; Library Director Lisa Masten joined remotely. Town Council Liaison Kelly deHaas, arriving late after another Town Council meeting, told trustees the panel-interview process for an unspecified town hiring matter was "moving along," with scheduling being finalized. Liaison A.J. Tiniakos, present in person, confirmed the Town Council had approved what deHaas described as a DCA grant application connected to the library renovation committee, consistent with work the board's own Facility and Site Committee has been tracking through LARC, the library's addition and renovation planning body.

Secretary's Report

The agenda lists George Bernocco for the Secretary's Report, though the current committee roster shows Iris Larsson holding the title of Secretary. Bernocco was absent Monday; Stamm said he had indicated there was no report to give. Larsson was not referenced as present or absent in the meeting audio. The discrepancy between the agenda's assignment and the roster's listed officer should be verified by an editor.

Approval Of Minutes

Trustees voted unanimously, on a motion made and seconded from the floor, to approve the minutes of the September business meeting. No discussion preceded the vote.

Annual Activities Calendar And Committee Assignments

President Diane Stamm distributed committee assignments she described as "my best guess" based on member preferences and staffing needs, inviting objections. She flagged that the library's annual 5K race, scheduled for the third Sunday in May (May 17, 2026), will mark its 30th running, and raised the idea of a commemorative element similar to a 25th-anniversary award given to the first male and female finishers that year. She also noted that board member Pamela Kiniry is stepping back from coordinating the library's annual "Ways to Give" fundraising campaign for personal reasons, handing those duties to a colleague identified in the meeting only as Joanne, who roll call registered under the name "Joanne Macy" (also rendered "Joanne Massey" later in discussion). Joanne does not appear on the board's published roster; her role and full name should be confirmed before publication.

Treasurer's Report

With Manke absent, Stamm read a condensed version of the treasurer's report. Unrestricted TD checking funds began the period at $75,319.66 and closed at $75,537.45 after roughly $7,000 in expenses. Restricted TD money market funds closed at $58,150.12. Unrestricted funds held with Kingston Wealth Management closed at $461,596.19. A restricted endowment fund closed at roughly $512,884 (the exact closing figure was difficult to parse from the audio). The combined Kingston portfolio across restricted and unrestricted accounts totaled $3,176,358, and the board's "fully accessible" restricted-and-unrestricted total stood at $3,302,892. A separate trust endowment fund, referred to in the audio only as a "Hooker" trust, held $494,702 that trustees can draw interest from but not principal.

Stamm reported all fiscal year 2026 reimbursements were complete through September 30, and the library's financial records for the year ending June 30, 2026 had been submitted to its accountant for IRS Form 990 filing. The library received a $5,500 donation to the Adele and John Sleba Young People's Reading Literacy Fund and a $185,370 distribution in September from the Anna Marino Living Trust — a legacy gift Stamm said may not yet represent the estate's final payment, since attorneys typically hold back a smaller residual amount during account closeout. The library's 5K race generated a profit of roughly $20,700 against $7,000 to $8,000 in expenses, which Stamm said remains the board's most reliable funding source for routine bills, distinct from the portfolio's larger but less predictable legacy gifts.

Library Director's Report

Library Director Lisa Masten reported a busy September, including staff visits to open houses at every elementary and middle school in town to promote library services. Adult programming attendance has been strong, particularly events tied to a vampire- and witch-themed autumn series. A month-long children's program, "Fresh or Rotten Pumpkin Blind Date with a Book," launched in October; it was run this year by Katie Cornell, who inherited the program from a staff member on parental leave, working with Bailey Francis, head of the Children's Department, and Sarah Reardon, the teen librarian, to curate and wrap a range of titles for patrons to check out blind.

Masten also reported a new picnic bench outside the library, replacing one bought roughly 20 years ago when Iris Larsson served as the board's treasurer. The new bench carries a memorial plaque for Glenn Torrey, funded by a donation from his partner, identified only as Christina, who serves on the Friends advisory board. Masten introduced Katie Cornell as the library's new business manager, noting Cornell, Hebert and Masten form the three staff faces in the administrative office. Cornell told trustees she started as a substitute in 2016, rose to circulation supervisor, and moved into the business manager role this fall while still assisting with circulation training.

Assistant Director's Report

Assistant Director Jennifer Hebert reported the library posted openings for substitutes in children's, reference and circulation departments after several current substitutes said they needed to reduce their availability; that posting closed October 3 and applications are under review for three positions. Hebert confirmed Joanna Sistuli has moved from digital services librarian to circulation supervisor, replacing Cornell, and is training under Cornell "in her free time." Sistuli's former digital services librarian post, a full-time union position, was posted internally to union members first, with an outside posting to follow if no internal candidate applies.

Hebert said the library submitted its lengthy annual Connecticut Public Library State Report on time in mid-September; the filing covers staffing, budget, collections and programs, and determines eligibility for state funding, including the inter-library loan program. She also flagged that Microsoft Publisher is reaching end-of-life support this month, prompting staff to migrate design work — including the library's race brochures and legacy-giving materials — to alternative software such as Canva before older files become inaccessible.

Friends Of The Library

Natalie Harbeson, representing the Friends of the Library, said the group is switching its banking relationship from Webster Bank to Liberty Bank after what she described as account requirements that had become difficult to manage, including demands for members' Social Security numbers. Membership stands at 350 paid members, within the group's typical range of 300 to 450; Harbeson noted a past membership drive once pushed totals into the thousands by tying credit-union eligibility to Friends membership, which she said created administrative headaches.

Harbeson said the group's annual book sale, which concluded the day before the meeting, unofficially raised roughly $2,000 more than the prior year. A membership reception is set for Saturday, October 24, from 1 to 3 p.m., with a basket drawing around 2:50 p.m. The Friends have 68 vendors signed up so far for the Adult Craft Fair on November 8, running 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with setup at 8:30 a.m. Winterfest preview baskets — five in total — will be available at the library for those unable to attend the January event, tentatively set for the third Friday of January.

Committee Reports

Budget, chaired by LeeAnn Manke, does not formally begin work until December or January; Stamm said staff — Masten, Cornell and Hebert — will coordinate the library's submission to the town budget process.

Under Planning, Evaluation and Policy, Vice President Maureen Lyons O'Connor said the committee updated behavioral-policy language approved at the September meeting, but the board will not formally adopt the revised policy until November because hard copies were not yet available. She said the board has two corporate trustee openings and one town-appointed opening, and plans to call a PEP meeting to discuss recruitment strategy, noting new corporate members typically go through an interview process before being seated, while town-appointed members are nominated to the Town Council.

Under Investment, Jason Hipp said most of the relevant figures had already been covered in the treasurer's report, adding that the committee is still waiting on an additional settlement amount tied to the Anna Marino trust proceeds. Discussion established that the investment group now includes four people — Hipp, Stamm, Manke and the trustee identified as Joanne Macy — and that the committee has gone the full summer without meeting with its outside investment adviser, referred to in the discussion only as "Dean," whose surname did not appear in the transcript or supplied documents. Hipp agreed to coordinate scheduling a fourth-quarter meeting.

Under House, Stamm reported the town still needs to finish wooden frames for a planned quiet-study-area partition, after some original frames proved not salvageable; a new library door has been completed. The committee wants to electrify the lower portion of the exterior sign so it can be updated more easily. Stamm corrected the posted date for the library walkthrough, confirming it is Saturday, November 7 at 8:30 a.m. — not November 8, as the agenda slide displayed — because the library will be closed Sunday, November 8 for the craft fair.

Under Facility and Site, Kristopher Riley reported LARC met September 24 and secured a $20,000 grant renewal. The committee discussed hiring a marketing or fundraising firm to expand community outreach ahead of an eventual library renovation; architect Andrew Berman has been kept informed of the shift toward communications work but is not currently engaged, since the board is not pursuing design options at this time. Riley said the board met a second marketing/fundraising firm candidate on October 15, which is expected to provide a cost and services proposal by the end of October. He also reported discussion of the Triumph Foundation grant — tied to his employer, Triumph Engine Control Systems — which has funded STEM programming in the Children's and Teen departments; staff are preparing an application and separately asked about grant options for senior adult programming.

Fund Development And Communications

Stamm said the board's committee structure has shifted as the renovation effort has moved from design planning toward communications and fundraising. She asked that Fund Development and Communications members join calls with prospective marketing firms going forward, and asked the Fund Development group to review legacy-giving brochures currently stored in Microsoft Publisher format to ensure they are converted before the software loses support. She noted no chairperson has yet been named for Fund Development and invited volunteers. Communications chair George Bernocco had no report beyond Waterfall Festival activity, relayed in his absence.

Old Business: Open Board Positions And HANL Cultural Programs

Trustees reiterated the board has two corporate and one town-appointed seat open and asked members to suggest candidates. Riley gave a delayed report on the HANL cultural programming the endowment requires the board to run twice yearly: a Greek mythology-themed skit program for grades two through five drew seven of nine registered children, and a teen improvisation session drew 13 participants. The $1,000 program budget came in under spending at $600, and Riley said he would ask presenters Bailey Francis and Sarah Reardon whether a second teen session could be added before year's end using the remaining funds.

New Business: Friends Adult Craft Fair

The board confirmed coverage needs for the November 8 Adult Craft Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with 8:30 a.m. setup, and Riley reiterated two budget motions tied to promotional support for the fair and future events (detailed below).

Procedural Steps And Outcome

Riley moved to increase the promotional advertising operating expense line item from $2,000 to $10,000 annually; the motion was seconded and approved on a unanimous voice vote with no stated opposition. Riley then moved to add $4,000 to the existing $2,000 not-to-exceed cap for promotional printed materials, citing depletion of funds after the Waterfall Festival and book sale; that motion was also seconded and approved unanimously. Stamm noted she would inform the absent Manke of both votes, since they involve budget filings Manke oversees, though the treasurer will not see the written minutes until they are finalized.

Implications And What Is Next

The budget increase takes effect immediately, giving the Facility and Site Committee a larger annual pool for flyers, bookmarks and trifolds ahead of the November 8 craft fair and the board's broader fundraising push. PEP's revised behavioral policy comes up for formal adoption at the November meeting. The board's three open trustee seats remain unfilled heading into that recruitment push, and the Investment Committee still needs to schedule its delayed fourth-quarter meeting with its outside adviser.

Diane Stamm, President, presided over the meeting. Maureen Lyons O'Connor, Vice President, reported on PEP and Nominations. Jason Hipp, member, reported on Investment. David Hourigan, member, present (roll call). Pamela R Kiniry, member, present (roll call; attribution based on roll-call sequence, flagged below). Pauline Kruk, member, present (roll call). David Nagel, member, present (roll call). Christine Shooshan, member, present (roll call). Kristopher Riley, member, reported on Facility and Site and moved both budget motions. LeeAnn Manke, Treasurer, absent; report read by Stamm. George Bernocco, member, absent; no secretary's report submitted. Iris Larsson, Secretary per roster; attendance not established in the transcript. Andrew Brecher, Anna Eddy, Fiona York, members; attendance not established in the transcript. Kelly deHaas, Town Council Liaison, present, gave update on town hiring process and a DCA grant vote. A.J. Tiniakos, Town Council Liaison, present. Lisa Masten, Library Director, present remotely. Jennifer Hebert, Assistant Director, present. Katie Cornell, Business Manager, present, introduced to the board. Natalie Harbeson, Friends of the Library representative, present. Joanne (surname rendered "Macy" and "Massey" in the transcript), described as taking over "Ways to Give" campaign duties and serving on the Investment Committee; not listed on the current roster. Dean, outside investment adviser; no surname given in any source.

LARC (Library Addition and Renovation Committee) — met September 24; secured a $20,000 grant renewal discussed under Facility and Site. DCA grant — a state grant tied to the library renovation effort, which Town Council Liaisons said the Town Council recently approved. Connecticut Public Library State Report — annual filing submitted mid-September, determines state funding and inter-library loan eligibility, cited in the Assistant Director's report. Kingston Wealth Management — manages the library's combined restricted and unrestricted investment portfolio, cited in the Treasurer's and Investment reports. Anna Marino Living Trust — legacy gift fund; $185,370 distribution received in September, final payment status unconfirmed. Adele and John Sleba Young People's Reading Literacy Fund — received a $5,500 donation, cited in the Treasurer's report. Triumph Foundation (Triumph Engine Control Systems) — STEM program grant funder for Children's and Teen departments. Webster Bank and Liberty Bank — Friends of the Library is moving its account from the former to the latter. Andrew Berman — architect retained for prior library renovation design work, kept informed but not currently engaged. Microsoft Publisher — software reaching end-of-life support this month; staff migrating legacy materials to alternatives such as Canva. September 2026 Library Board meeting minutes — approved unanimously at this meeting.