WATERVILLE -- City councilors inched toward giving the Public Library money it wants for renovations Tuesday by approving a proposed $37 million municipal and school budget that includes the requested $1.5 million.

Councilors must take a third and final vote on the budget.

The vote came after a long and grueling budget workshop Tuesday night in which councilors debated the library's request in a council chambers packed with library supporters.

The library is asking for $1.5 million toward a $3.1 million project to make major renovations to the 100-year-old city-owned building. An elevator, stair tower, heating and air conditioning systems and a new entrance off Appleton Street are part of the plans.

Mayor Paul R. LePage and City Manager Michael Roy had recommended giving the library $750,000, and that amount was in the proposed budget. LePage opposed giving $1.5 million to the library while the library also was asking for a 21 percent increase in its operating budget. The bulk of that increase would restore an adult services librarian and provide for fuel cost increases.

LePage last week challenged library officials to decrease that 21 percent to three percent and raise $1.5 million for renovations. He said the city would then match the $1.5 million.

On Tuesday, David Bernier, president of the library's Board of Trustees, said once a municipality supports such a project, large organizations will help reach a fundraising goal. The library has raised more than $600,000 so far.

"You've got to have some things in hand to get the big boys to give you more," Bernier said.

Councilor Charles "Fred" Stubbert Jr., D-Ward 1, said he thought the mayor's request for a match was a great idea and argued that library officials did not give city officials financial details of the renovation project until recently. Library officials said they requested a meeting with the city's Facilities Committee but the city refused that request.

Councilor Thomas R.W. Longstaff, D-Ward 6, said he would support giving the library $1.5 million if the library raised that amount and had it in hand before the work started. He asked Library Director Sarah Sugden if that could be done.

"Absolutely," she replied.

During the regular council meeting following the budget session, councilors voted 4-3 to amend a resolution asking them to approve a $37 million municipal and school budget by adding another $750,000 for the library. Of the $1.5 million to be given to the library, $750,000 would come from the undesignated fund balance, also known as surplus, and $750,000 would be borrowed.

Council Chairman Dana W. Sennett, D-Ward 4, Stubbert and Councilor John O'Donnell, D- Ward 5, opposed the amendment.

LePage said he would veto the amendment and warned that taking money out of the surplus account hurts the city's bond rating, making it more difficult to borrow. The high school is going to need an estimated $15 million in renovations, he said.

Bernier said the city has not addressed the library issues in a long time and the public wants the project to be done. A lot of the work to be done there addresses safety issues.

"This is your building," Bernier said. "You have to account to the public what you're doing with it."

LePage said he wanted to sit down with library officials and work on the proposal.

"My point is, I agree with getting it done but you can't get everything you want all the time," he said.

He said he firmly supports the library's efforts and thinks that giving $1.5 million can be worked out.

Meanwhile, councilors voted 7-0 to approve the proposed $37 million budget, including the amendment to add another $750,000.

Longstaff reminded councilors that they must take another vote to finalize the budget and it is possible the library plan could be funded another way.

"If we find a better way, another amendment is still possible," he said.

Councilors also voted 5-2 to give control of part of Mayflower Hill Drive through the Colby College campus to Colby.

Stubbert and O'Donnell opposed the measure.

Colby President William "Bro" Adams assured the council that the college does not plan to close the road to the public.

"We have no plan, no intention, no vision, no reason to interrupt traffic on that road," he said.

Amy Calder -- 861- 9247

acalder@centralmaine.com