Fairlee
Speaking just minutes after the 228-157 vote totals were announced by election officials, Selectman Jay Barrett said contractors will begin work to make the historic Colonial Revival town hall’s second-floor performance space and bathrooms fully accessible, and up to code, this summer.
“The contractor has already priced it out,” Barrett said. “He’s got to tighten just a few things, and then he’ll get building.”
The 59 percent vote in favor of the proposal was almost identical to the 58 percent who approved the renovation project in February, on a 146-105 vote.
The heightened turnout this time around came after a group of more than 90 residents petitioned the town to reconsider the February vote, expressing concern that the public had not been made fully aware of the potential costs of a failing 265,000-gallon municipal water tank off Bald Top Road.
The public green outside the town hall was home to dueling sandwich boards urging voters to “Vote Yes! Pay Less!” or to “Vote No! Water First!”
Earlier this month, facing accusations that they were being less than forthcoming about the water tank issue, town officials released details on a proposed water system bond. The project would not only replace the water tank, but also replace 1.6 miles of water main, and install a filtration system to address complaints over bad-tasting, hard water that contains high levels of manganese.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $3.9 million, but town officials say they expect to significantly defray the cost through a combination of grants, water user fees, and a potential legal settlement from the company that in 2004 built the water tank, which was supposed to last 75 years but began losing chunks of concrete from the ceiling by 2015.
Selectboard members said the town’s legal counsel advised them to withhold details about the lawsuit, but that, in March, they asked for more leeway in disclosing information to the public, which allowed them to release the $3.9 million bond proposal. Selectboard Chairman Peter Berger said the town will soon post warnings for that vote, which he said could take place as early as next month.
Those who petitioned for a revote argued that the water bond was a higher priority than the town hall renovation, and that the town hall project should therefore be shelved, at least temporarily.
That line of reasoning was convincing to voters like Susan Corliss and Richard Wheeler, who came out on Wednesday evening to cast ballots against the bond.
“I think water is more of a priority in town,” said Corliss, who said she learned about the issue from a brochure placed in her mailbox by bond opponents.
Wheeler said he hadn’t voted in February, but that this time, he was convinced that the project should be defeated.
But many of the voters who walked out of town hall after casting a vote in favor of the town hall bond said they simply didn’t feel the town had to choose between two worthy projects.
“I think we can do it all,” said Maureen Gatto. “We’ve been debating this for decades. And I thought it was about time.”
Others said the town hall project should be done now, because the town currently has access to grants that will defray some of the costs.
“This has to be done at some point,” said Rob Chapin. “And it’s going to cost a lot less now.”
Other residents, like Rachael Traendly, said they were excited about the potential of bringing the 350-seat, second-floor auditorium to life. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
“We need reasons to drive people into town,” said Traendly. She said that local businesses, like the recently opened Samurai Soul Food restaurant, have gained some momentum and are bringing visitors to the town during the day.
“We need to make sure that after five o’clock, we have theater and live music. And we have to make it accessible for everyone,” she said.
Some voters said that they weren’t personally invested in the town hall, but they found the arguments in favor to be more convincing.
“I was on the fence,” said Sarah Berger, who recently joined the Planning Commission. “I’m not going to lie.”
Berger said she was swayed by the idea that the renovation will help the town hall to be more of a central gathering place for residents, and that will in turn foster more of a sense of community.
She said she also plans to vote in favor of the water bond next month.
“I think we need to do both things,” she said.
Matt Hongoltz-Hetling can be reached at mhonghet@vnews.com or 603-727-3211.