Billerica Library Board Approves Holiday Festival, Sends Retirement Letter to 24-Year Staff Member

BILLERICA — June 3, 2024 — Billerica Library Board of Trustees seats new member, approves Holiday Festival, and marks a retirement. The board unanimously welcomed Tom Considine, a lifelong Billerica resident and Billerica Memorial High School library aide, as its newest trustee at the June 3 meeting. Chair Alan Rawlings oriented Considine on the board's policy-focused role, noting that updated procedures have been a priority "to make sure employees know how to handle" challenging patron situations. The board also approved the America Holiday Festival's request to use the building for its annual reception on November 22, 2024, and voted unanimously to send a formal letter of thanks to Diane, the library's reference and administrative specialist since 2000, who announced her retirement effective July 18. Library Director Joe Saint-Germain reported that Spring Town Meeting approved the FY2025 budget at $1,766,575 — a 3.5 percent increase — and that the library's annual wine tasting generated proceeds of $10,098.68 from 223 tickets sold. Exterior stair repairs are scheduled for June 19, and a newly discovered second water heater may help resolve the building's long-running hot water problem, though no repair timetable has been set.