BEVERLY HILLS — City leaders and villagers now have 18 months to find a way to come up with half a million dollars to save their Baldwin Public Library services, or risk losing them altogether.

At the June 16 regular meeting of the Village Council, members voted 5-2 to draft a letter to the Baldwin Public Library, notifying its Board of Directors of the village’s intent to terminate the contract for services.

On June 15, the library board voted unanimously to allow the village 18 months to rescind the contract if notice was given by June 30.

Council president Todd Stearn, who made the motion to send the letter, said he did it with “great dismay and a lot of sorrow.”

“I’m going to work very hard over the next 18 months to find the funding, but we just cannot wait on a three-year commitment to the library at this time,” he said.

Beverly Hills has contracted for services with the Baldwin Public Library since July 1, 1992, with a three-year, self-renewing contract, which either party had the right to terminate on 24 months notice before June 30, the last day of the fiscal year.             

Stearn, Councilwoman M. Lee Peddie and Village Manager Chris Wilson met earlier this month with the library board to request that the 24-month term be shortened to 18 months.

The board passed a resolution recognizing the financial hardships of the village and the importance of the ongoing relationship, and will allow the notice of termination through Dec. 31, 2010, without any interruption of services. If not rescinded, the contract with the village will end June 30, 2011.

Councilman Walter Briggs said he agreed with the motion, adding “it is the prudent and right thing to do to make sure we’ve not locked ourselves in for an additional year.” 

Councilman John Mooney, however, disagreed vehemently.

“I think the negotiations by our president and Ms. Peddie were tactically brilliant, because it says to everyone who wants a library that you have to act, but it is inappropriate for us to cancel this contract,” Mooney said.

“This isn’t just about the library, it is about the quality of life in Beverly Hills. We keep the library, and we go to the people and point out the nonsense circulated in this village by a very few people that this council has been fiscally irresponsible. I will not vote to cancel that library contract — it is a birthright of the people.”

Resident Tim Mercer told the council it “cannot afford not to continue the contract.”

“We’re holding the library hostage at the benefit of other services in the village. It’s a good contract, and fair,” he said.

“Our library also serves the kids of Beverly Hills that go to Birmingham Public Schools, so what happens to them if we cancel the contract?”

President Pro-Tem Rosanne Koss said because the council could have four new members in 18 months, she was not willing to risk the possibility that the letter would not be rescinded.

“This is our home, and we have to figure out what is important to us as people, and what we want this village to be. I’m not willing to send that letter today,” she said.

Councilman Ron Berndt said he was concerned about what would happen if the city remained locked into the contract, but then went bankrupt.

“Our bills and our revenues don’t always line up, and what would happen if we suffered a significant disaster, like a sewer line collapse or something that had to be addressed immediately? Our fund reserves would be gone,” he said. 

“If we were excused from this table by a receiver, he will not be concerned with our parks and our library. We have to find a way to fund the things we value, and what we have now is the option to do that, thanks to some skillful negotiation.”

Councilman Jon Oen said he was heartened to see the crowd of more than 100 residents who turned out to the library study session meeting on June 15 to offer suggestions on how to save their library services.

“We’ve been looking at cuts for a long time now, and I’m just not sure where we’ll find $522,000 in cuts,” he said.

“We had a roomful on Monday, and it was great to see — I thought it was very positive, and there were many positive comments. I don’t want to see our library go away, it will destroy our village.”

You can reach Staff Writer Robin Ruehlen at rruehlen@candgnews.com or (586) 279-1105.