By Bonnie Adams, Government Editor
Westborough – Voters today denied a request for an $11 million debt exclusion to build a new Fire Station. According to Town Clerk Nancy Yendriga, the unofficial results were 912 not in favor to 672 in favor. 1,587 (14 percent) of the 11,097 registered voters cast their votes.
The measure to fund the new Fire Station was first approved by the voters at the March 19 Special Town Meeting. But because it was to be funded as a Proposition 2 ½ debt exclusion, it also needed to be approved by a ballot vote.
Officials have said that the Fire Station, built in the 1880s, has long outlived its functionality. Leigh Emery, the chair of the Board of Selectmen, also noted in a recent interview that not only would the cost be too prohibitive to repair the existing Fire Station, no contractor would take the job on, due to the extremity of the work that would be needed.
