Gilmanton voters ban biosolids, fund Year-Round Library

By THOMAS P. CALDWELL, LACONIA DAILY SUN

GILMANTON — Residents voted overwhelmingly, 542-277, to ban the spreading of biosolids on agricultural land, and by a 525-313 vote, they approved the expenditure of $47,000 for the operation of the Gilmanton Year-Round Library.

Local farmers had pleaded to continue allowing them to use the treated septage sludge to keep their soil productive, and said the ban might force them out of business.

Tuesday’s ballot also included an article to remove a section of town from the Official Historic District map, and that one passed, 661-112.

The operating budget of $3,756,855 passed, 565-237.

Voters also passed a petitioned article to allow them to vote for members of the Planning Board, rather than having the selectmen appoint them.

Voters rejected, 394-406, the appropriation of $45,000 to go into the court case non-capital reserve fund that the town established in 2003.

While a majority of voters (437-342) favored changing the purpose of a highway equipment capital reserve fund to a highway equipment and repairs capital reserve fund, the change failed for lack of a 60 percent majority vote. The selectmen were opposed to the change.

Voters rejected, 380-415, an article that would have given the selectmen the authority to expend money from several capital reserve funds.

Elections

Michael Wilson won a four-way race for Gilmanton selectman, with 374 votes. His closest rival was Michael Jean with 212 votes, followed by James “Dan” Shallow with 199 and Gary Anderson with 24.

Anne Kirby, the only name on the ballot for Budget Committee, received 724 votes for one seat, and Alec Bass received 82 votes to win the second seat. David Smith received 26 votes.

Glen Waring (448) defeated Robert Carpenter (276) for the one-year seat as town treasurer.

Michelle Descoteaux defeated Katina Provencal, 435-225, for supervisor of the checklist for six years, and Patricia Poslusny (686) was elected supervisor of the checklist for two years.

In uncontested races, Mark Sisti (761) was elected moderator; Paul Perkins (737) was elected road agent; Candace Daigle (747) was elected cemetery trustee; Donna White (728) was elected library trustee for three years and Elizabeth Clark (736) was elected library trustee for one year; Frederick Buchholz Jr. (576) and Neil Roberts (563) were elected to three-year seats as trustees of trust funds.