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Ashland council ends year with library OK By Sara Murphy ASHLAND � The City Council�s last meeting of the year � and Mayor Cathy Shaw�s final finesse in a 12-year career �pulled in a packed house, a round of applause and a solid statement of support for a larger library Tuesday. The council voted unanimously to forge ahead with renovation and expansion of the Carnegie library and directed staff to sign a contract to begin construction on the $5.96 million project. "This is extremely satisfying," said Barbara Ryberg, president of the Friends of the Ashland Library. "It is certainly a relief to know that it�s going to happen." The project, twice approved by voters, became controversial in recent months among people who questioned whether the library should be expanded at its current site, the lack of "adequate" parking and removal of trees from the property. After bids came in at least $571,000 over the $4.1 million construction budget last month, both the council and citizens questioned whether negotiations to whittle down the project�s price were also "significantly altering" the plans as they were approved by voters � and bid on by other contractors. The council met Tuesday afternoon with the newly elected mayor and council members, who take office Jan. 2, in an attempt to create continuity and agreement on the issue. The question was largely whether the council should "lock in" a contract with 2G Construction of Eugene before the bid expires Sunday, or to reopen bids on the modified project. Though Mayor-elect Alan DeBoer and members-elect Cate Hartzell and John Morrison were leaning toward delaying contract negotiations, DeBoer said Tuesday night the new council�s job will be to follow up on the current body�s decision. "I think construction will start very quickly," said DeBoer, who plans to contact the architects today. The council�s vote, though unanimous, was not without a hint of dissent. Councilman David Fine said his vote of support was "reluctant." He said he felt changes to the project met the "test of substantiality," but he had concerns about whether the council had violated voters� trust. Mayor Shaw, stepping down soon after three terms in office, disagreed. "I�ve bled a lot over this project," she said. "To suggest we were disingenuous in any way is upsetting." Longtime Councilman Don Laws said the council made the right decision, even if it means losing some trees on the library lawn, known to some as Ethel Reid Park. "I strongly suspect that if Ethel Reid were alive today, she would much rather have improvements made to the library than have her park preserved," he said. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.