The St. Johnsbury select board rejected a proposal to add 20 beds to the Vermont Corrections Department’s work camp in their community.
That’s because members of the select board took issue with the state’s decision to reduce the number of beds to be added in the project. The state had first proposed a 100-bed expansion.
The board says they will resume discussions with state officials only when the state is ready to move forward with the 100-bed project.
Tom Burley of the Department of Buildings and General Services, says the state needs the beds, but doesn’t have the money to build a 100-bed addition now.
And Burley says he understands the town’s point of view.