For the second time, Town of Murray officials have been thwarted in their desire to construct a new town hall.

When the final votes were tallied December 11, the town's proposal to construct a 5,200 square foot office building was defeated by a margin of 244 to 177. The building would have carried a price tag of approximately $548,000.

An earlier proposal, put before voters in October, was also defeated. The proposed building in that vote was for a 7,2000 square foot building and it was estimated that it would have cost voters $175,000 more than the proposal set before them the second time.

Town Supervisor Henry Lehning said unfortunately he was prepared for the project to be voted down.

"Maybe we should set up a citizens committee to see what we can do," he said. "Scaling the project back even further is not realistic ... unfortunately people seem to think that the space we have now is adequate."

Town officials had set aside funds during their budget process that would have paid off the debt service on a new building, if the proposal had passed, Lehning said.

"There is no space here to operate an efficient government," he said. "There are no available spaces to meet our residents' needs and we have employees working out of filing cabinets in their basements.

The cost to upgrade the present facility has been deemed too expensive, as it would require the demolition of the concrete walls within the building. Upgrades are necessary for the town to meet the Americans With Disabilities Act laws that require handicapped accessible bathroom facilities. Construction of the new building would also alleviate hazardous parking conditions and a lack of parking spaces.

Councilman Lloyd Christ expressed disappointment that only about 400 out of the town's 2,700 eligible voters came out to cast their ballot.

"I don't think people realize ... it's not that we want this new building," he said. "We need it."

Highway Superintendent Edward Morgan said it would be helpful to town officials if individuals would tell them why they voted the proposal down.

"We are in a real quandary," Lehning said. "We're going to have to explore this further and we have to find out how long our commitment for low interest money is good for with Rural Development."

Town resident Lynn VanOrden, who was a vocal dissenter of the town's plan to construct a new facility said, "The people have told the officials twice now what they think."