Special Town Meeting voters were not interested in spending $20,000 to study relocating several town departments from a rented space on Marion Road.

Selectmen requested the funds to hire an engineering firm to explore moving the Conservation Commission, the Building, Health and Planning Departments from the Town Hall Annex. Those offices have been housed in the annex for the past nine years.

Specifically, Selectmen wanted to consider building on a town-owned parcel at Dexter Lane or expanding Town Hall to house those offices.

Town Administrator Mike McCue said state regulations guide municipal construction projects. Funding the study would start that process. Also, a professional study may be used to secure financial assistance from the state, McCue said.

Selectmen saw the study as the first step in a bid to save money.

“What we’re trying to do is to make a business decision. Do we spend thirty-eight thousand dollars a year on rent or put a down payment towards a mortgage on our own building?” Selectman Rich Nunes said.

Currently, the town spends $27,600 a year to rent the space in the annex. Nunes' original estimate was corrected after Town Moderator Woody Hartley asked town officials to confirm the figure.

Resident Nancy Mello questioned Selectmen about a previous Town Hall building study. Select Chair Brad Morse noted that study was conducted 12 years ago. At the time, the Rochester Memorial School expansion was underway and funds were not available.

Resident Dennis McCarthy opposed the new study saying a professional firm was not needed.

He said the school's construction proved that the cost associated with municipal projects “is going to be astronomical.”

“I believe we’re wasting twenty thousand dollars right off the bat to ‘quote, unquote’ study this,” McCarthy said. “Somebody could sit down with a pen and paper and after forty hours come up with the same conclusions.”

McCue said that wasn’t possible under state law.

“State law advises that you follow this planning process,” he said.

In response to residents who asked why a committee wasn’t formed to explore this issue, McCue noted that if the funds were approved the Selectmen would have appointed an ad hoc committee at their next meeting.

“We would not move forward in engaging an engineering firm until we discussed with the public and Finance Committee before spending the [study] funds,” McCue said.

The request needed a simple majority to pass. Nineteen people favored the motion.