Amherst passes $15m road bond

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Staff photo by Bob Hammerstrom Amherst Deputy Moderator, Steve Coughlan shares a laugh with Patty Jillson while she deposits her ballots during town elections Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at the Souhegan High School.

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2010 Amherst Town Meeting
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AMHERST – Voters have apparently had enough of bouncing and banging their way along Amherst’s roads, as 1,939 of them – 160 more than the needed 60 percent majority – gave the town the green light Tuesday to spend $15 million on a multiyear project to repair or rebuild about 23 miles of roads.

Voters also approved the proposed $9.76 million operating budget, 1,888-1,039. It represents an increase of just $31,000 over the current budget and will add 2 cents to the town portion of residents’ property tax rate.

But two other major articles on the ballot – one calling for $2.25 million to buy and preserve open space and the other a petition article asking for $625,000 to buy recreational space to replace Cemetery Fields, fared far worse, failing by roughly two-to-one and three-to-one respectively.

As for the closely watched selectman’s race, two-term incumbent George Infanti retained one of the two open seats with 1,408 votes, while outgoing Amherst School Board member Dwight Brew secured the other with 1,419 votes.

Coming in third was former longtime Selectman Marilyn Peterman with 1,099 votes. Newcomers Caroline DeVore Grohse-Holz and John S. Rubery were far behind.

A total of 3,025 residents turned out to vote, which is roughly 35 percent of the town’s registered voters.

A rarely seen article asking voters to accept a fact-finder’s report in the negotiations between the town and the police officers’ union was soundly defeated 1,932-935.

And the majority of voters appear happy with the current SB2, or “secret ballot,” form of town government. They defeated by more than a two-to-one margin an article asking whether the town should return to the traditional Town Meeting format.

Voters narrowly approved, 1,466-1,371, a resolution to support a constitutional amendment to define marriage.

“I’m very happy with the results,” Infanti said. “I very much look forward to working with Dwight and the other board members, and I appreciate voters’ continued support.

“Likewise, I will continue to do my best for the town and our residents.”

Brew, who edged Infanti as top vote recipient, said the numbers were “a very pleasant surprise,” adding that he felt confident going in, but that garnering the most votes was an unexpected bonus.

Dean Shalhoup can be reached at 673-3100, ext. 31, or dshalhoup@nashua telegraph.com.