HERMON – A large crowd of residents turned out Thursday night to reject a plan to allocate $400,000 in town funds to construct a new phase of the athletic complex, which would include eight outdoor lighted tennis courts and a pavilion.

The vote occurred only two weeks after voters approved giving town funds to the Penobscot Snowmobile Club, which were later returned because of controversy generated by the move.

After overfilling the original special town meeting space of the high school’s auditorium, more than 300 residents filed into the gymnasium, where the funding was rejected 235-86.

“There are a lot more important things the town needs than a tennis court,” said Doug Sinclair, who listed creating a public works department and a police department as higher-priority needs.

The Greater Hermon Community Athletic Complex Committee sought $400,000 to begin its funding of a $1.3 million project, which featured the tennis courts, an open-aired pavilion, elaborate gardens, outdoor restrooms and improving the high school’s field hockey and soccer fields. The proposed development, referred to as Phase II of the GHCAC, would be located next to the high school fields.

If the project had received the funding, the money would have been given only after the committee raised a matching $400,000 within a year. The remainder of the project would be funded through in-kind donations and private money, said Lee Cliff, a member of the committee.

The money would have come from the town’s fund balance, or surplus account, and the facility would be self-sufficient, Cliff said. Renting out the facility, offering camps, clinics and lessons would defray the annual maintenance costs, he said.

As Hermon continues to grow, many residents said, the town is struggling to find its identity. While many said they moved to town because of its small-town attitude, recently the town has been tackling “big city” funding issues.

“We like the small-town atmosphere, and they’re trying to make it a big city,” resident Alan Byers said.

Thursday night’s meeting was the second special town meeting in two weeks where the town asked residents to allocate money for what many called “special interest groups” and “nonessential items.”

On Jan. 4, the residents voted 47-31 to give $150,000 to the Penobscot Snowmobile Club for the construction of a new club building, newer trail-grooming equipment and other maintenance necessities. The vote caused such a controversy around town that earlier this week the snowmobile club returned the funds to the town.

“I would be remiss to say that part of the attendance tonight isn’t a result of two weeks ago,” Town Manager Clint Deschene said.

On Thursday night, many residents said local money should be spent on projects from which the entire community could benefit.

“I don’t think this project is a project for any governmental body,” resident Gerald Palmer Sr. said.

While the future of the project is now unclear, Deschene said the committee would probably speak with the council to discuss future alternative funding.

“I support programming for tennis courts, but this is way over the top,” resident Ed Phipps summarized.