Kennebunkport residents will have the opportunity to vote on a bond to build a new town office at the polls in November.

The referendum question on the ballot will ask voters to approve a $5.75 million bond, with a unanimous recommendation from the Kennebunkport Board of Selectmen, to adopt the article.

At a meeting last December, the board discussed possible locations for a new town office, ultimately landing on 32 North St., which currently serves as the Village Fire Station.

At the time, Town Hall Committee member Allan Evelyn said benefits of the shared space included a training area for firefighters and a community meeting space.

Since December, the committee has continued its work on a proposal for the new site, including conducting a community meeting on Aug. 18.

“Nine people commented at that meeting, and they all said Kennebunkport needs a new town hall,” Evelyn said.

Some of the concerns brought up by residents included the site as a whole, trees, the building and traffic.

One Kennebunkport resident said that while everyone who spoke at the meeting was in favor of a new town hall, none of them were in favor of the 32 North St. site.

Nina Pearlmutter said two of those not in favor of the site were firefighters. 

“I think that you ought to get input from the people of this town before this project goes any further or spends any more money,” Pearlmutter said.

In 2023, voters rejected a proposal to build a new office at Village Parcel, an area of land that runs from North Street to School Street. The price tag on that project was $8.8 million.

At the time, Hope Mowry, communications and special events coordinator for Kennebunkport, said that voters wanted a new town hall, but not to the tune of almost $9 million.

“The need for a new town hall was understood by voters,” Mowry said. “Voters were not comfortable with the price tag.”

If voters approve the bond in November, the project would be funded through capital reserve funds and special donations.

Evelyn also said he would like the town to sell the current town office at 6 Elm St. and use the money from the sale to fund the new town hall project.