Library Project Defeated by 158 Votes

The building project was defeated by 158 votes tonight.

Town officials were suprised and will head back to the drawing board when it comes to the project.

"I am surprised, but the board will be discussing how to move forward," said Board of Selectmen Chairman James Kane. "We're going to have to take a big breath and see how we move forward."

"Tomorrow is a new day," said Library Director Ellen Dolan. "This is a disappointment, but I'm incredibly thankful for all the volunteers who put their heart and soul into the project. The voters spoke and we will look to them to see what changes they want."

Library Trustee Laurie Hogan said she believes the library project is good for the town. "I'm very disappointed, but the voters have spoken," she said. "We can reduce the project by 5 percent, but anything smaller and we lose the grant. I still believe this project is good for the town, but we're going to have to move forward."

Hogan's husband, Matt, also addressed the crowd of supporters that gathered at after the vote.

"If the library supporters didn't vote, it's their own fault," Matt Hogan said. "But tomorrow is a new day."

Voters steadily came to the polls all day.

"I'm voting no," said Don Wiles, who voted at the town hall. "It's a Proposition 2 1/2 override, so it's always a no."

Jane Persico, who also voted at the town hall, said she was in favor of the project. "The town has to keep growing," she said. "If they put a cafe in the library, then the kids will have a place to hang out."

Stay with Shrewsbury Patch for more coverage of the election.