Instead of selling the municipality-owned TOMVAC Building on Route 9W to a fire sprinkler business for $380,000, the Town of Marlboro decided to renovate it into a modern community center.

The town board first voted 3-2 in favor of selling the building in September, and already had the buyer lined up. After fees, the town would have received an estimated $350,000, attracted up to 15 employees in the area, and added to its business tax base.

But, some members of the public petitioned to put the decision on a ballot for Marlboro voters to decide, as New York State law allows. In the December 4 special election, voters chose to block the sale by a count of 609 to 276.

"They spoke and we understand that," said Town Councilman Scott Corcoran.

Corcoran was one of the three council members who voted in September to sell the property. He says there are no bad feelings over the rejection and is rather pleased to see so much public awareness and involvement.

"We don't have many people that come to our board meetings everynight so we guide ourselves on what we think the public is asking for," Corcoran said.

Town Supervisor Alphonso Lanzetta was one of the two council members who voted in September to keep and renovate the building, despite proper maintainance in the last 13 years, and a minimal use of the space.

"We neglected the building because we didn't know what we were going to do. So now we know, and everybody's on board to address whatever problems are in the building so we can make it a community center," Lanzetta said.

The board is now consulting with the town's engineers and local contractors to work on a center that is up-to-date and ADA-compliant. They hope an asbestos abatement will not be needed.

Lanzetta said early estimates to renovate the TOMVAC Building are around $600,000, but a grant worth $250,000 secured by late Assemblyman Frank Skartados will go toward the renovation.

He also said the town is looking into applying for other grants to help blunt the final bill. A renovation could begin as soon as the fall of 2019.