Town Manager Libby told the Select Board on May 28 that staff will present an evaluation of alternatives for Our Island Home at the board's June 11 meeting.

The town's effort to replace the current skilled nursing facility was endorsed by voters in the May 21 town election but did not receive the two-thirds vote required at the annual town meeting, Libby said. "We are working on a presentation for the board that would evaluate potential alternatives for the island home at your June 11 meeting," she said.

The question matters because the ballot and town-meeting results pointed in different directions: the election produced a narrow margin in favor while the town meeting did not meet the supermajority threshold. Resident Amy Eldridge told the board she was unclear which result the town would treat as "favorable," noting the measure "won by 85 votes at town election, but it failed by two thirds vote at town meeting."

Select Board members stressed the need for more information before returning any plan to voters. "I'm not inclined to represent Our Island Home in its current form, and rush to do so," said Select Board member Dawn, who asked for alternatives and additional analysis. Board members and staff flagged several issues that the June presentation will address: a cost comparison of scaled-down designs, how renovation at the existing site would require residents to relocate during construction, and the financial implications of reducing bed counts.

Board members noted that scaling down the facility would not reduce operating costs proportionally. "When you cut off rooms, you cut off revenue," Dawn said, adding that fixed costs mean a smaller facility can increase operating deficits. Other members emphasized the need to show the community what closure, renovation, or a scaled alternative would look like in terms of timing and cost.

Libby and other town staff said renovating the existing building would trigger code compliance work and likely require residents to move during construction; the current site also would not yield the same bed capacity if renovated in place. Libby told the board that an option under consideration removes a wing to reduce bed counts, but cautioned that such downsizing "does not downsize the cost by the same kind of percentage," making it a potentially difficult sell.

No formal vote was taken. The board directed staff to prepare the June 11 presentation analyzing alternatives, costs, bed counts, closure timelines, and operating implications so the Select Board can consider next steps.

The town also noted practical constraints and statutory timing related to ballot follow-ups: Libby said there is no fixed statutory deadline for a special town meeting other than a requirement for timing that is "reasonable," but a special election called to revisit certain ballot questions would need to be held by Sept. 15 under election statute timelines. Staff warned of potential cost increases for projects revisited later.

The board emphasized public outreach and clearer communications about the implications of each option. Libby said more detailed information and recommendations will come back to the Select Board in June.