Most school board request pass - just barely

No upsets in town elections

There were few surprises at the polls yesterday but voters did turn down a proposal aimed at advancing the School Board’s plans for dealing with crowded conditions at Alton Central School.

A $195,000 article that would raised funds to pay for site evaluations, develop conceptual plans and fund other costs associated with evaluating properties — or securing rights to buy lands — that could be suitable for new or expanded school facilities failed by just 11 votes, 372-383.

Another article that proposed putting $280,000 in the district’s Building and Grounds Expendable Trust Fund passed but by a less-than-overwhelming majority, 441-318 (58-percent).

In fact, the district’s annual operating budget for the 2008-09 school year of $12.5-million passed by an even slimmer margin, 343-325, or 18 votes.

The voters also overwhelming turned down a minor, but controversial, proposal to raise the salary of the five-member school board and several other district officials who serve in a semi-voluntary position, 169-584.

But the voters did support articles to add lighting and sound equipment to Prospect Mountain High School’s auditorium and to fill in wetlands on the high school grounds in an areas where athletic fields could someday be developed.

School Board Chairman Terri Noyes was not available last night to comment on the district vote outcomes.

Sandy Wyatt was elected to serve a three-year term on the School Board, replacing the departing Dan LaCroix. Wyatt received 493 votes to 144 votes cast for Edith Miller. Miller, the wife of Budget Committee Chairman Steve Miller, had signed up for the race but announced several weeks ago that she was withdrawing even though her name was listed on the ballot.

On the town side, incumbent selectmen Alan Sherwood, with 512 votes, and Pat Fuller, with 451 votes, easily beat out challenger Alan Bald for another three-year term.

In the only other contested race, Library Trustee Shirley Copeland received 434 votes compared to challenger Linda Hess’ 216 votes. A relative of Copeland said last week she has served for a trustee of the Gilman Library for many years and the only reason Hess signed up was that she thought Copeland no longer wished to serve.

Meanwhile David Hussey, the owner of the Coffin Brook Gravel Pit that a Wolfeboro developer hopes to turn into a motocross track, was elected to a one-year term on the Planning Board with 570 votes. Hussey was supposed to be opposed by Rob Bystrack, the Youngstown Road resident who was killed in a murder-suicide incident at his home last month.

Voters approved of most of the articles town leaders recommended. They okayed an ordinance to ban electronic signs, 518-239 and they supported the town’s proposed $5.9-million operating budget, but by a much slimmer margin of 404-362.

But they vetoed by a 295-466 vote plans to put $70,000 into the Police Building Capital Reserve Fund, turned down a $30,000 proposal to buy and equip a new SUV command vehicle for the Fire Department by a 379-390 tally, and rejected by a 287-489 vote the idea of spending $34,0000 to buy a new pickup truck for the highway department.

By a vote of 532-195, voters approved of a change to the town’s ethics regulations that would allow people who regularly appear before town boards representing clients to serve on those board if they recuse themselves from all client-related deliberations and follow other guidelines.

In a 568-175 vote, residents asked that all meetings of the Budget Committee be, whenever possible, taped for showing on local cable public access television. The wording of the article makes only a request since board chairmen hold the final say on the issue.

And by a 646-103 vote, an article passed that would require all town boards and committees to meet in municipal buildings.

About 20-percent of the town's 3,875 voters went to the polls, casting approximately 785 ballots.