Madison alderman seeks commitment to library renovation (UPDATE)

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By Paul Snyder

A Madison alderman’s proposal to change wording in the city budget would officially kill any chance for construction of a new central library this year.

Alderman Mark Clear said he plans to introduce at the Common Council’s April 13 meeting a resolution that would change wording in the 2010 budget from a new central library project to a renovation of the library.

“When the budget passed, I think everyone understood the project as something new at the corner of Henry Street and West Washington Avenue,” he said. “The mayor’s been very upfront about renovation now, and there just needs to be council agreement on that.”

The plan for a new central library included a development team led by Madison-based The Fiore Cos. Inc. designing and building a new library’s exterior.

The team then would have turned over the project to the city to build the interior.

Fees the team received for building the shell would have let Fiore buy the city’s existing library to redevelop into a mixed-use building.

But negotiations between Fiore and the city broke down this month and Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said the city instead will renovate the existing library.

The city’s 2010 budget does not include wording specific to a library on West Washington Avenue or Fiore. But the budget alludes to financing plans tied to the Fiore project, including $4 million from a land sale and $10 million in projected private donations.

“It’s not specific enough that the spending would be limited to a new building,” said Debora Simon, budget and audit manager in the city comptroller’s office. “The description just says, ‘central library project.’ But it certainly doesn’t hurt to introduce a resolution.”

The description also calls the central library “new,” which Clear said could be challenged by council members in April or May when they vote on renovation.

The Madison Public Library Board likely will informally consider the resolution during an April 5 meeting. Clear said the city’s Board of Estimates will vote on the resolution next month.

Alderman Mike Verveer, who represents the district that includes the central library, said a resolution is a good way to avoid a legal loophole.

“The actual budget language is very ambiguous,” he said. “I’m not ecstatic about the renovation, but I recognize that time is of the essence now. I’m not interested in any more delays or waiting another couple years for something to happen.”