FARMINGTON — Selectmen on Tuesday discussed what to do in the wake of last week's defeat of the referendum on building a new police station and decided to revisit the issue at their Dec. 8 meeting.

  Surprised by the outcome, board members said they had heard few negative comments prior to the vote and few reasons for the negative vote afterward.

A slim margin of 127 votes defeated the issue, but 1,507 voters supported it, Town Manager Richard Davis said. Whether it was a matter of bad timing with the state of the economy or it was perceived as being too expensive, there was strong support that the police need a better space, he said. Apparently they didn't like the option presented.

A large voter turnout for emotionally charged referendum questions also raises the question of whether young voters from the university may have swayed the vote.

Standing outside the polls all day, state Rep. Lance Harvell, R-Farmington, told the board he questioned some of the 400 to 500 college students who voted. Calling it a very small and unscientific survey, he said some reported they didn't vote, while about 80 percent voted negatively.

With the vote coming one day after town taxes were due, Selectman Dennis Pike questioned if residents just couldn't fathom more property tax, especially in light of the budget problems in Washington and Augusta.

"We need to go forward," said Police Chief Richard Caton, who suggested looking at the plan and considering adjustments.

The proposed fitness room, while not elaborate, would give officers a chance to release stress, he said.

"After you've gone to a fatal, the last thing you want to do is go to the Fitness Center at the University and have to talk with everyone," he said.

Caton also defended the conference room, saying that while there are other meeting rooms in town, the availability isn't always there.

The space was designed to compensate for future growth, Davis said. Other town departments are in pretty good shape, he said.

"We have this one real tough knot to take care of then we'll be in good shape for a long time," he said.

Bunker listed other options the town could pursue while most of the board leaned toward taking the plan or a similar plan back to voters in either June or November.

While the June vote would eliminate the question of student votes, the timing for construction bids may be better in November, Davis said while suggesting the department may have to wait another year.

abryant@sunjournal.com