This story by Jason Starr was first published in the Williston Observer on June 18, 2026.
Feeling rushed by an August revote proposed by the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library board of trustees, the Williston Selectboard last week unanimously backed a plan to push a library expansion bond question to the general election ballot in November.
It will be the third time this year that Williston voters consider an expansion of the library. Voters narrowly approved a $13.9 million bond for the project on Town Meeting Day in March before a group of residents petitioned for a reconsideration vote, objecting to the increased cost to taxpayers.
That vote, in May, broke for reconsideration, with a narrow majority putting brakes on the project.
The library trustees are eager to return to the ballot with a scaled-back proposal, favoring an aggressive timeline for gathering public input and seeking voter approval during the Aug. 11 statewide primary election.
“The longer we wait, the more expensive it is going to be,” trustees Chair Charity Clark urged the selectboard Tuesday. “We already have a plan in place, it just needs to be refined and dialed back.”
Because this is a national election year, the town has two upcoming election opportunities. According to Town Manager Erik Wells, in order to get a bond question on the Aug. 11 ballot, the selectboard would need to finalize the amount being requested by July 11.
Selectboard members are unanimously uncomfortable with that turnaround.
“I honestly think August is not feasible,” said board member Jeanne Jensen.
Wells said the board would have an Aug. 3 deadline to finalize a bond request for the November general election. That will allow more time for the library trustees to seek public input on reducing the scope of the expansion and work with project architects to produce new renderings for residents to consider.
“I really want to make sure we go as a community together for this project and not have people feeling left out,” Jensen said. “I think November is feasible … to get it communicated in a way that feels respectful to the community.”
The trustees and board held a joint meeting Monday at Williston Central School to begin taking public feedback. The trustees also published a survey that residents can fill out at the library or online at www.willistonlibraryproject.org through July 4.
The selectboard plans to use its meetings scheduled for July 7 and July 21 to narrow the scope of the project and determine how much public financing to request for the bond vote Nov. 3.
“(That) seems like a more reasonable timeframe to really get input from all the residents and get a plan that more than 50% can stand behind,” resident Terri Zittritsch said. “It just seems better for the well-being of our town, residents and community.”
