The Town House Building Committee members wanted Selectmen’s approval to bring a $7.9 million renovation proposal before residents at the Annual Town Meeting. They didn’t get it.

“I love the concept of the town hall in the Village…but I have nothing to compare it to,” said Selectman Steve Gonsalves. “I’m still on the fence.”

On Tuesday night, Selectmen decided to see first if voters will OK a $35,000 study to evaluate a new option ­­– the feasibility of constructing a new building on the VFW property. The option is a citizen petition that will be on the Annual Town Meeting agenda.

Gonsalves said a survey mailed to residents on the Town House issue was too vague. On that survey, 931 people responded, none of them Gonsalves. About 55 percent voted to renovate the Town House while about 40 percent wanted a new building at the VFW. The rest wrote in other options.

The Town House Building Committee favors “Option 3A,” one of four options presented in recent months. This one would remove an addition on the Town House, reducing the size of the building’s footprint. It was also the least expensive of the four Town House options.

“We’ve tightened up the plan, put pressure on all the employees to make do with a little less,” said committee Chair Bob Raymond.

The committee’s funds were earmarked specifically for renovation studies, so it could not look into the VFW option, which was a late contender since the town only got the deed to the property a few months ago.

During Tuesday’s conversation, Selectmen Chair Jody Dickerson said, “I think it’s time to move forward.”

Some folks in the audience disagreed.

“The fact remains that there is a thinly divided town,” said Bob Lane. “The only intelligent thing to do is have an independent review.”

Chris Collins was also concerned about the state of the town.

“It’s almost like the presidential election being replayed,” he said. “We’re killing ourselves on a conversation that really shouldn’t be this emotional.”

Collins said the town should be able to come up with a creative solution, perhaps creating a nonprofit to deal with the Town House and a new building is created to house town operations.

Alan Minard, chair of the Finance Committee, said the townspeople wouldn’t approve Option 3A without seeing the new building option. From conversations he’s had with residents, he said people are “cranked up and are angry.”

“My sense…is that this will fail without a second option,” Minard said. He implored Selectmen, “I beg you. Don’t go forward. It will be a mess.”

After hearing comments from the audience, the Selectmen voted to table the Option 3A discussion until Town Meeting voters decide on the new build study.