GORHAM – The Gorham Town Council in an unusual special meeting Wednesday authorized sending a pair of referendums to voters in the election on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

The seven-member board approved a bond question for a referendum asking voters for up to $4 million to renovate the Gorham Public Safety Building, 270 Main St. The building houses police and Central Station for fire and rescue.

The council’s published agenda for Wednesday’s meeting called for asking voters to approve spending up to $1 million renovation for the Public Safety Building. But councilors approved a series of amendments that jacked the figure up to $4 million.

The council approved the measure without an architect’s plan for the project. “We don’t have a nailed down plan,” Councilor John Pressey said.

A former town councilor speaking from the public podium, Shonn Moulton said, alluding to a former longtime councilor, “Burleigh Loveitt would say your putting the cart before the horse.”

Councilor Matthew Robinson said it didn’t make sense to decide on any money figure at Wednesday’s meeting and Robinson also said the town hadn’t randomly picked numbers in the past for building projects. “To me, there’s no reason to rush this along,” Robinson said.

But, Brenda Caldwell, chairwoman of the council, said the two departments are working in substandard conditions. Caldwell said a project to improve conditions had been postponed for 10 years.

“I desperately want this to go forward,” Caldwell said.

Councilor Matt Mattingly called conditions inside the Public Safety Building “deplorable.”

The panel also approved asking voters to decide whether to spend $500,000 to repair the former Little Falls School.

The council OK’d both referendum measures sponsored by Vice Chairman Philip Gagnon in identical 5-2 votes with councilors Michael Phinney and Matthew Robinson opposed. It also set Tuesday, Oct. 2, for a public hearing on both referendum questions.

The council usually meets Tuesdays and this week’s special meeting called for Wednesday with limited advance notice drew some fire, upsetting Phinney.

“It seems like your trying to slip” something past voters,” said Phinney, who did favor establishing a building committee.

The council named Phinney, Caldwell and Pressey for a building committee that will also include two citizens along with police and fire chiefs.