Although the April 28 Philadelphia Inquirer said supporters of the rescission acknowledged they lacked the two-thirds of council members needed to override an expected veto by Mayor John Street, the issue is expected to come up in negotiations for next year’s budget, which must be approved by June 30.
At a meeting that lasted nearly four hours, council members sharply questioned library Director Elliot Shelkrot, who testified that it would take at least $1.95 million to return the branches to normal hours; on April 6 he had said it would require at least $1.5 million. Shelkrot attributed the difference to the cost of employee benefits, prompting Councilman Michael A. Nutter to reproach him for not having that information two weeks earlier. Council members also asked city administrators why the library expansion could not be financed through $24 million in state funds allotted to the city that are now slated for a new juvenile justice center or through $30 million in bond interest that had been set aside for emergencies.
Posted April 29, 2005.