Voters reject debt exclusion for new town fire station.

Byline: Donna Boynton

WESTBORO - The $11 million fire station project was defeated in a special election yesterday - a decision rendered by a fraction of the town's registered voters.

The debt exclusion question was defeated by a vote of 912-672. Only 1,587 voters went to the polls, representing 14 percent of the 11,097 registered voters.

Town Manager James Malloy said he was disappointed with the vote, but the Municipal Building Committee will be meeting within the next two weeks to decide how to move forward.

"This is our highest-priority capital need," Mr. Malloy said. "We cannot fix this building, and even the people opposed to this project understand that."

Mr. Malloy said a proposal may be back for voters' consideration in the fall.

"Unfortunately this only delays the project and adds to the cost," Mr. Malloy said.

Paula Less is one resident who did not support the debt exclusion question.

"I never disagreed that we need a new fire station, the issue was always how it was funded," Ms. Less said. "If other departments needed to be cut to fund...