To The Editor:
The upcoming revote for a much needed new Waitsfield town office on the Farm Stand site boils down to either supporting a new cost-effective, energy-efficient town office on an appropriate site in the historic Waitsfield Village or starting the process all over again. To date the process has taken three years of meetings, surveys and ballots, as well as upwards of $60,000 of taxpayers' money. The process evaluated several options and ultimately ended with the Farm Stand site being recommended as the most cost-effective alternative for a new town office. Subsequently, the town of Waitsfield has received a large Community Development Block Grant and a very generous gift, significantly reducing the cost to Waitsfield taxpayers.
The requirement for a new town office will not go away. The vault is full and the current work and meeting space is inadequate for town needs. Potential flooding is an ongoing concern. To start the process over, with more studies, meetings, surveys, votes, expenses and delays, would undoubtedly result in significant added cost to Waitsfield taxpayers.
Voter turnout has been low and, despite passing by a wide margin, that low turnout was used to justify a petition for reconsideration. I urge everyone to vote on October 22, or now by early/absentee ballot. And, if you agree with my analysis that the Farm Stand site is a good and very cost-effective plan, I urge you to vote yes for the new town office on the Farm Stand site.
John Reilly
Waitsfield
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