An ambitious $28 million plan to renovate and link the Town House with the Elizabeth Taber Library via a two-story addition has been abandoned.

On Tuesday, Marion Selectmen directed members of the Town House Building Committee to focus on a smaller plan that would renovate the 1890 building by making it more accessible, expanding meeting space and modernizing the interior. At $12.5 million that option has a much smaller price tag, though Selectmen still want to see it trimmed down before it goes to Annual Town Meeting.

The $28 million project included doubling the size of the library and adding a two-story senior center, in addition to Town House renovations.

The committee researched a variety of plans before presenting the options at two public forums where residents had an opportunity to weigh in.

Building Committee Chair Bob Raymond said public opinion leaned towards the less expensive option.

Both were discussed at the Special Town Meeting in October and again at a public forum held on Nov. 5.

“The general reaction we had from the town was that it was too broad in scope and cost too much money,” Raymond said. “And there were suggestions of ways to do it cheaper. Some ideas are worth considering and some are interesting ideas and are not worth considering.”

Those ideas ranged from soliciting private donors for funds to taking advantage of state grants.

At the board’s meeting, Town Administrator Paul Dawson said state funds are available specifically for library renovations.

However, using those funds for libraries attached to other buildings may face restrictions.

“While it’s not impossible to blend buildings, it is frowned upon,” Dawson said.

Selectmen Chair Stephen Cushing said settling on a design is imperative as the building’s upkeep has been neglected for some time.

“My biggest fear is when we start looking around for various ways to fund this, then we’re another ten years out,” he said. “I don’t think we can wait for ten years before this building literally starts falling.”

Selectmen directed board members to reduce the cost of option A and forgo option B. Cushing and Building Committee member Bill Saltonstall said pushing for the more expensive project would be a non starter with voters.

Already, the town is facing several multi-million dollar projects related to roads and the wastewater treatment plant.

“I’m a little uneasy as everyone is with the budget,” Saltonstall said. “It seems we were selected to do a Town House job, which didn’t include these other facilities initially … I can’t believe that the voters of town would opt for the more expensive of the two solutions.”

Saltonstall said if his committee was tasked with reducing the $28 million figure, the savings would be between 10 to 15 percent, “if we’re lucky.”

All agreed that expanding the library and building a space for seniors were worthy projects, but ultimately outside the scope of the committee’s mission.

“The building committee was to focus on the Town House and be mindful of the needs of the library and the senior center,” Dawson said. “This committee has studied it from every possible angle and fulfilled its mission.”

Building Committee member Meg Steinberg asked about seeking the opinion of library officials and the Council on Aging before dropping the $28 million proposal. “Do the the COA and library representatives have a say?” Steinberg said. “They will be upset.”

Ultimately, the cost, coupled with other projects such as wastewater treatment plant upgrades, would prove too much for voters.

“I don’t feel comfortable going to Town Meeting with a $28 million project,” Cushing said.

Moving forward, the committee will pay architect firm Turowski2 Architecture, Inc. to redraw option A plans.