MONTPELIER — Voters in the capital agreed to purchase the 138-acre property once home to the Elks Club, ending what had become a contentious debate.
Residents approved four 20-year bond votes Tuesday totaling $27.4 million. The projects include a renovation of East State Street, the second phase of sewer plant upgrades, miscellaneous infrastructure upgrades including park renovations and improved street lighting, and — most controversially — the purchase of the Montpelier Elks Country Club, without a set proposal for what to do with the space.
Some residents have criticized what they see as the city’s rushed and elitist plan to buy the Elks Club. But city officials touted it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Montpelier, suggesting potential uses such as low-income housing or child care facilities.
Voters agreed and approved the purchase in a 1,205-1,021 vote, according to unofficial results from City Clerk John Odum.
Mayor Anne Watson, who won reelection in a landslide, said that she hopes the city will use the property for a recreation center replete with outdoor sports spaces, but she also has bigger ideas.
“If the city is running the process, then we can ensure that it is affordable housing that is built there,” Watson said.
Several opponents told VTDigger that the public grew frustrated with the slap-dash proposal to purchase the Elks Club. Among them was local resident Dave Bellini, who said he would have supported the measure if it were accompanied by a plan. He liked the sound of a new rec center, and he does not oppose more housing. But without a plan from the City Council, he decided to vote no.
“I can’t support a blank,” he said. “We don’t even know who the City Council is going to be. You vote for that on the same day that you’re voting to ‘aye’ or ‘nay’ this purchasable.”
Leading up to Town Meeting Day, Montpelier Finance Director Kelly Murphy penned an FAQ explaining the potential effects of the four bond votes. If all were to pass, Murphy expected the city to exceed its recommended borrowing limit, also known as a debt ceiling. She noted the limit is only a recommendation and said the city would still be well within state limits on borrowing.
