City officials have signed off on more than $200,000 in preparatory work for building repairs at Medford City Hall and the Medford Public Library.

The Medford City Council March 8 voted unanimously to approve $190,000 for the design of substantial improvements at City Hall, including construction of a new roof and repairs to the building’s parapet wall, cupola and front entrance. The project would also repair sections of the ceiling and ornamental molding in the Howard F. Alden Council Chambers.

According to cost estimates prepared by engineering firm Russo Barr Associates, Inc., the total cost for City Hall repairs would be $2,046,556.

The council also approved $18,000 to investigate the roof condition at the Medford Public Library, where 100 children’s books were damaged in late December after a round of snow and rain showers.

Afterward, Building Commissioner Paul Mochi said the city spent $5,000 to remove about 4-5 inches of snow from the library’s roof and clear leaves and debris from drains that had clogged.

“It’s much, much better,” said Acting MPL Director Barbara Kerr. “When they came after the initial storm, they cleaned all the water off, they drained the roof and they did maintenance on the drains that are on the roof. And since then, it’s been much, much better.”

The city has since solicited cost estimates for various degrees of repair to the roof. According to estimates from roof manufacturer The Garland Company, repairing the building’s canopy, low roof and high roof would cost between $10,500 and $19,000; retrofitting all three roof levels would cost between $90,000 and $125,000; and replacing all roof levels would cost between $535,000 and $590,000.

According to estimates, the city might be able to address existing leakage issues with repairs to the library’s lower roof, at a cost of $9,899.

“We may decide to replace the whole roof,” said Louise Miller, the city’s chief budget and procurement officer. “We won’t know that until we have the study.”

With the $18,000 in approved funding, the city will also conduct a structural analysis to determine whether the building’s frame would support an expansion of the second floor.

“We’re pretty excited about this,” Kerr said. “We’ve been wanting to expand to the second floor for years. We’ve very pleased that the new administration has so quickly responded to support the library.”

Kerr said the library would like to move its children and young adult sections upstairs.

City Councilor Michael Marks has also advocated for the addition of a café if the city is able to expand the second floor.

Before approving the library funding, Council Vice President Breanna Lungo-Koehn requested the city conduct mold testing at the building.

Councilor John Falco also requested a report from the city’s Building Department detailing previous maintenance work and maintenance schedules at the library.