By lauren sausser

By a more than 3-1 margin, Hooksett residents agreed during the May 12 town vote that doubling the size of the wastewater treatment plant is in the town’s best interest.

Half of the $6.2 million project, which will double the capacity of the local plant, will be funded by federal economic stimulus funds. The other half will be covered by rate increases imposed on sewer users – approximately one-third of Hooksett residents.

Estimates project that sewer ratepayers can expect about an $88 increase per year for 20 years to fund the project. The vote to approve the project was 712-197.

If the project had not been approved, the town would have been required to forfeit the federal funds.

The majority of voters who showed up at the polls also approved the $15.8 million municipal operating budget. If that budget had not passed, the default budget would have been approximately $60,000 more.

State Rep. David Boutin was elected to the District 1 Town Council seat. Boutin will replace Patricia Rueppel, who had served on the council for nine years and did not seek re-election.

Town Councilors David Ross and James Gorton, who ran unopposed for their seats, were re-elected for three-year terms. Residents also approved the hiring of a full-time children’s librarian for the Hooksett Public Library, beginning in January. Nearly $32,000 will cover six months of salary and benefits for the future employee. Future salary and benefits for the position will be incorporated into the 2010-11 fiscal year budget.

Residents voted against the creation of a fund to establish public access television in Hooksett. Currently, Comcast cable users pay franchise fees, which, townwide, total about $120,000 annually and are deposited in the town’s general fund.

About 10 percent of 9,114 registered voters cast ballot.

A full list of ballot results is available on The Hooksett Banner’s Facebook page, which can be accessed through www.hooksettbanner.com.