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Sunday, April 1, 2007

Residents rejected a bid at Monday's town meeting to build a new town office, sending the project back to the drawing board and requesting additional information before it will be taken up again.

At issue is whether the structure should be built at its proposed location or be attached to the fire station on adjacent property, with the old town hall being razed to create a parking lot.

Town officials have been working out of the Fire Department's community room since December, after the town offices were deemed unsafe because of structural integrity and mold.

Residents spent a lot of time debating the issue, with some saying the proposed structure, priced at $295,000, should be larger to provide more storage space and room for future growth.

Voters quickly approved the remaining 35 articles on the budget, including a $583,088 plowing and road maintenance budget, up $100,000 from 2006; and a reserve account to cover major expenditures for items such as equipment replacement and road repairs.