Norwell Select Board discusses committee reappointment policy changes and library foundation fundraising plans
Board members seek clearer process for handling volunteer appointments while library foundation proposes naming rights policy to support programming and operations.
NORWELL - August 6 - The Norwell Select Board addressed concerns about its committee reappointment process and heard a presentation from the newly relaunched Norwell Public Library Foundation at its Aug. 6 meeting.
Board member Lorenda Layne raised questions about transparency in the reappointment process, citing the need for clearer policies when concerns arise about committee members throughout the year.
"Unfortunately we're not given the luxury of taking it entirely as a case-by-case situation," Layne said. "When concerns are raised, these are things that we need to do unfortunately in the circumstances of what's needed."
The discussion stemmed from recent reappointment decisions where some incumbent committee members were not reappointed without public discussion of the reasons.
Vice Chair Brian Greenberg said he wants to see specific discussions about every applicant going forward, whether new or incumbent, with proper notice given to existing members.
"There be a specific discussion about every single applicant, whether that's a new applicant or an existing or incumbent applicant, and that there be specific notice given to incumbent applicants to make sure that they're aware that a discussion will be happening," Greenberg said.
Board member Andy Reardon suggested adopting a process similar to town meeting procedures, where any member could "hold" a reappointment to trigger a public discussion with the candidate present.
"What if we did what we do at town meeting of we're gonna talk about the planning board, you know, we like the planning board, we're gonna talk about the Conservation Commission," Reardon said.
Town Administrator Darleen Sullivan offered to serve as a mediator when issues arise with committee members during the year, rather than waiting until reappointment time.
"I have had in the past a couple issues on committees and people had come to me. And I did talk, you know, had a meeting with the person that there was some issues with," Sullivan said.
The board did not vote on any policy changes but agreed to continue developing clearer procedures for handling reappointments and addressing concerns about committee members.
Alison Demong, representing the Norwell Public Library Foundation, presented plans to reinvigorate private fundraising for the library through naming opportunities and endowment building.
The foundation, originally established in 2005, went inactive after the town funded the new library project entirely with municipal funds and a state grant in 2017. Demong said the foundation now has an eight-member board and aims to enhance the town's library budget.
"Our goal is to raise money, private funds, really for two purposes. One, to be able to, in the future, fund shortfalls in the budget," Demong said. "We want to create this foundation not to replace funding from the town. That is the town's obligation. It is a public library."
The library saw over 90,000 walk-in visits in 2024 but faced a 9% budget cut this year following the failed override, resulting in lost Sunday hours and a $30,000 gap in the materials budget.
Demong requested the board adopt a naming policy for spaces within the library to enable fundraising through naming opportunities. She cited successful examples from Scituate and Cohasset libraries that have established endowments providing annual funding.
"For instance, you know, for whatever, fill in the blank, $30,000, the Demong family can name study room one for 10 years," she explained as an example of how naming rights could work.
Board member John McGrath, who has experience with fundraising and development offices, supported the concept as a way to kickstart a capital campaign.
"This is a really, the naming piece of this is a great opportunity to kickstart a capital campaign because there are certain individuals in the town that just like to put their names up on things and like leave a lasting mark, but are willing to pay a pretty penny to do that," McGrath said.
The board voted unanimously to direct Town Counsel Bob Galvin to draft language amending the town's existing naming policy to allow for library naming opportunities. The foundation plans to hold a kickoff event Oct. 18 at the library to celebrate the facility's 50th anniversary.
Library Trustee Jeanne Hagelstein-Ivas emphasized that naming revenue cannot replace municipal funding due to state requirements for public library certification and aid.
"The town of Norwell is responsible for funding the operating budget of the Norwell Public Library," Hagelstein-Ivas said.
The board appointed Reiko Beach to the Cultural Council following a brief interview where she outlined her experience with the Chamber of Commerce and Women's Club.
Sullivan provided an update on the town website completion, reporting that a senior worker has organized 2,627 files and is working to post meeting minutes from 2023-2025 online. The project aims to make board and committee records more accessible to residents.
The board also discussed quarterly budget check-ins with the finance director and scheduled the Community Housing Trust to appear at the next meeting to discuss their future direction.
The board's next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 20.