"We would time the bid so that the heaviest and most disruptive work would be done during non-school time," City Manager Robert W. Healy said.

They also worried that expansion at the Broadway site would cramp the high school.

"When you have so little open space, every little bit counts," says school committee member Alice L. Turkel. "We will never get back an inch of open space."

CRLS is also in the middle of a major restructuring effort to change its teaching curriculum, which Principal Paula M. Evans said was stressful enough without disruption from the construction project.

"I worry about this putting people over the edge," she said.

Last week's meeting became very pointed at times, with Councillor Timothy J. Toomey Jr. calling the leadership of Superintendent of Schools Bobbie J. D'Alessandro and other school officials "disappointing" and saying that they were focusing too much on "me, me, me."

D'Alessandro told councillors she was displeased with the reception school officials received.

"If you ask for honest input, you'll get it," D'Alessandro said. "We did the best we could. We didn't paint a rosy picture. We vary in our opinions."

Councillor Braude harshly criticized his fellow councillors for their attacks on school committee members.

"For the woman who runs the high school to be treated so dismissively, as if we know better what's best for the kids who go to school there, is arrogant at best," Braude says. "I'm not saying what she believes is what we have to believe, but there was almost no consideration of her thoughts."

December Decision

Despite continuing disagreement, a self-imposed vote deadline still looms. But discussion of the library during Monday's regular council meeting quickly degenerated into bickering over whether the scheduled Dec. 11 meeting about the library required a final vote.

"We all want to get this done as soon as possible, but I want to be clear that the meeting is a special meeting on site selection, where we hope to have closure and make a decision," Braude said.

Several councillors quickly spoke up, saying that they did expect a vote at the meeting.

"There has to come a point when it's time to make a decision," said Councillor Michael A. Sullivan.

While Mayor Anthony D. Galluccio said the meeting was originally scheduled for the purpose of a vote, he said a decision could not be made unless five councillors decide to support a vote.