Hartland — Within the next few days, the town of Hartland is expected to complete its purchase of a half-acre property and house next to the recreation center, Town Manager Bob Stacey said on Tuesday night.

Stacey spoke after voters defeated an article at a special Town Meeting calling for reconsideration of a March vote to buy the property.

In a packed Damon Hall, residents voted, 98-63, against reconsidering the article, negating the need for a vote on a second article, which was to vote again on whether to purchase the property for no more than $180,000.

The original article to purchase the property was easily approved by ballot at Town Meeting in March.

Few spoke for or against the reconsideration article that Town Moderator Pat Richardson said was defeated by a voice vote. But several people questioned her ruling and asked for a ballot vote.

Most of the discussion on the property followed the vote.

Stacey said the town’s cash flow is fairly strong, so the town likely will pay cash for the property at 21 Route 12, but it could later decide to borrow the money. In response to a question about tax impact, Stacey said it would be paid back over five years at $39,000 a year which is less than a penny on the tax rate.

Opponents of the purchase said the property, which had not paid taxes for at least three years, qualifies for a tax sale and the town could probably have gotten it for less money. After the meeting adjourned, Stacey said that if it did go to tax sale, the town would have to bid at auction.

Even if it won the bid, he said, the town could not touch the parcel for a year because the owner has that much time to come up with the money to keep the property.

Stacey said once the town takes ownership — it is under contract — he wants to form a committee of residents as soon as possible to look at how it may be used.

“We want to get to work on it, consider alternatives and move on it quickly,” Stacey said.

Expanded parking at the recreation center or using the house as a senior center were two suggestions. One resident urged people to write ideas on unused ballots and leave them with town officials.

Sherry Clarke, the woman who filed the petition to reconsider the March vote, said she did so because she saw the purchase as a “want,” not a “need.” She said the recreation center’s front steps, the town’s cost toward rebuilding the Three Corners intersection and replacing a dump truck are more pressing.

“I just see costs keep going up and going up,” Clarke said.

Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.