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The County Council may again revisit its policy of providing free parking for Rockville and Bethesda library customers.

The council's three-member Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee voted 2-1 on Monday to recommend against reimbursing the City of Rockville more than $140,000 for the parking of library customers in Town Square in fiscal 2010.

The county library is located in the Town Square development.

Councilman George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park said he does not support paying for parking for the library patrons, a position he has taken for the last two years. Last year he tried and failed to repeal the free-parking policy, arguing that the system would be abused by those who do not use the libraries.

"I don't believe we should be subsidizing parking for library patrons, I don't think we should be subsidizing parking for shoppers and diners in Rockville Town Square," Leventhal said during Monday's committee meeting.

Councilwoman Nancy M. Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park supported County Executive Isiah Leggett's recommendation to continue funding parking for library patrons.

Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist.1) of Potomac requested an analysis of the parking system at the Bethesda Library, which he said he has heard is not effective.

"My understanding from the Bethesda Library people is that this has been a nightmare for them and it hasn't been working very well," Berliner said.

Rockville city officials said they would not subsidize library patron parking if the County Council repeals its policy.

"We certainly couldn't afford to do that," Mayor Susan R. Hoffmann said Tuesday. "We are already subsidizing the garages quite robustly and voted last night to continue to do so at least until early October."

Hoffman added, "I just hope their decision isn't so short-sighted that it impacts attendance and the use of the library."

The City Council voted Monday night to postpone until Oct. 5 extending paid parking hours to weekday evenings and on Saturdays. Those who park in the Town Square garages currently pay $1 per hour from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Patrons of both the Rockville and Bethesda libraries can park their cars free for two hours per day, according to the county policy passed last year. Prior to that policy change, the county was offering unlimited free parking for library customers.

The council subcommittee is recommending that the full council revisit that policy this summer after the fiscal 2010 budget is finalized. If the council decides to repeal the policy, library patrons would begin paying for parking. If the council keeps the policy, the budget would need to be supplemented to include the more than $140,000 that Leggett estimates would be owed to Rockville.

The committee recommended continuing to pay Rockville $377,500 for parking fees. That includes $71,000 for library employee parking, $180,000 for the county's portion of debt service for the parking garages, and a $130,000 payment in lieu of taxes.