MIDDLEBURY —Middlebury residents on Tuesday voted 915-798 in favor of a $6.5 million bond to erect a new municipal building and recreation center. Voters rejected, by a 955-731 tally, a citizens’ petition that sought to direct the selectboard to instead rebuild or renovate the municipal building and gym at their current location at 94 Main St.
Voters also elected Dean George, Brian Carpenter and Laura Asermily to vacancies on the town selectboard. Incumbent Selectman Craig Bingham was defeated in his bid for a fourth consecutive term on the board.
Middlebury residents also endorsed bond issues to repair their library roof ($200,000) and provide a local share (up to $500,000) toward a tunnel that will replace the deteriorating railroad overpasses on Merchants Row and Main Street. The UD-3 budget also passed by a comfortable margin.
The Independent did not receive official confirmation of the Middlebury Australian ballot results until 8 a.m. on Wednesday. An election document sent out electronically by the town clerk’s office just prior to midnight on Tuesday featured zeros next to all candidate names and ballot articles.
The Independent will feature full coverage of town meeting results from Middlebury and all other Addison County towns in its Thursday, March 6 issue.
 
         LAURA ASERMILY                       BRIAN CARPENTER