Hooksett Banner : election results

Gray resigns over voting troubles

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:19:00 GMT

BY LAUREN SAUSSER

In an effort to deflect public criticism alleging that Hooksett’s handling of the state primary vote was mismanaged, Supervisor of the Checklist Frank Gray submitted his resignation during the Hooksett Town Council at their meeting on Sept. 24.

“I don’t like to quit,” Gray said. “What happened here, I can’t answer. But I don’t believe for a moment anyone tried to interfere with voters. We’ve all had training.”

And although the councilors may still be scratching their heads over exactly what went wrong during the primaries, they were also informed that a part-time assistant has been hired to clear any errors on the checklist of registered voters before Election Day, Nov. 4.

Gray, who was chairman of the three elected supervisors of the checklist in January, was accused of failing to reassign party affiliations for dozens of Hooksett voters immediately after the presidential primaries.

As a result, a number of voters who thought they were registered as independent had been, in fact, affiliated with the party they chose to support during January. They were allowed to vote in the state primary on Sept. 9, but only for the ticket they voted with eight months earlier.

Arlene Longfellow, the current chairman of the supervisors of the checklist for Hooksett, said the errors on the checklist rubbed many voters the wrong way.

“People didn’t get changed over (to independent),” said Longfellow, wife of Town Councilor George Longfellow. “It made them upset and I don’t blame them. If I couldn’t vote the way I wanted to, I’d be upset too.”

Three complaints have been officially filed with the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, which is responsible for enforcing voting laws.

Gray, who claimed responsibility for the errors because he was chairman at the time of the presidential primaries, said partial blame could be placed on the computer system that tracks registered voters across the state. He said the supervisors have had problems with the system in the past and he thinks the program “executed through the federal Helping Americans Vote Act” is a gateway to encourage fraudulent voting.

“The system that they have is flawed,” he said. “I don’t know if I did something wrong. Did the computer system mess up again like it has before? I don’t think there is any way of knowing.”

Robert Ehlers, also a supervisor of the checklist, told the Town Council that he and Arlene Longfellow are invested in making sure Election Day runs smoothly.

“We are really gearing up for this next election,” said Ehlers, also co-chairman of the local Democratic Party. “We’re going to have a good (check) list.” Town Clerk Leslie Nepvue said her office, with the help of the new part-time assistant, is making sure the registered voter checklist is completely up to date and accurate.

Typographical errors, address changes, party status changes, deceased voters and duplicates on the list are being corrected, she said.

“We’re going right down, soup to nuts, to make sure it’s all clear,” Nepvue said.

Hooksett vote, warrant articles, May 13, 2008

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:35:00 GMT

Article 3: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500,000 for the purpose of completing the upgrades of the Hooksett Wastewater Department Treatment Facility and to authorize the issuance of not more than $1,500,000 of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33) and to authorize the Town Council to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon; and to raise and appropriate and additional sum of $230,000 for the first year’s payment on these bonds or notes. (3/5 ballot vote required) ($0.17 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (6-1), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (6-4)
Yes................................500     • No................................504
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Article 4: Shall the Town raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amount set forth on the budget posted with this warrant or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $15,786,795? Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $15,325,417, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of Town Meeting or by law; or the governing body may hold one special meeting, in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only. Note: This Article does not include special warrant articles #3, 5 through #25. ($.40 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (9-1)
Yes................................468     • No................................508
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Article 5: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $113,975 for salaries and benefits to be set aside in a merit wage pool for non union full-time and part-time Town personnel. ($0.09 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (7-0), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
   Fiscal Year   Salaries       Benefits
   2008-09       $97,973       $16,002
• Yes................................597     No................................388
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Article 6: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000 to be placed in the Assessing Certification Capital Reserve Fund already established. ($0.04 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (7-0), RECOMMENDED BY BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
(TIE) Yes................................488     No................................488
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Article 7: To see if the Town will vote to discontinue the following capital reserve funds with said funds with accumulated interest to date of withdrawal, to be transferred to the Town’s general fund. RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (7-0), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
   -Architectural and Engineering Plans for Town Center Building (established in 2003) with a zero balance as of February 2008
   -Fire Department Computer Development (established in 2004) with a zero balance as of February 2008
   -Containment/Enclosure for Storage at Transfer Station (established in 2003) with a balance of $1,391.72 as of February 2008.
• Yes................................748     No................................229
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Article 8: Shall the Town rescind $16,000,000 of bonding authority that was authorized at town meeting in May 2006 and to comply with the results of the special election in October 2007 for the upgrades to the Town’s infrastructure at Exit 11 Tax Increment Finance District. (3/5 ballot vote required) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (6-1), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
• Yes................................725     No................................218
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Article 9: To see if the Town will vote to continue the numeric tally of all town council and the budget committee votes to recommend or not recommend an article be printed in the town warrant next to the affected article.
• Yes................................738     No................................178
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Article 10: To see if the Town will vote to establish a Recreation Revolving Fund pursuant to RSA 35:B:2 II. The money received from fees and charges for recreation park services and facilities shall be allowed to accumulate from year to year, and shall not be considered to be part of the Town’s general fund unreserved fund balance. The Town Treasurer shall have custody of all monies in the fund, and shall pay out the same only upon order of the Town Administrator. These funds may be expended only for recreation purposes as stated in RSA 35-B, and no expenditures shall be made in such a way as to require the expenditure of other town funds that have not been appropriated for that purpose.   RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (7-0), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
• Yes................................706     No................................238
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Article 11: To see if the Town will vote to establish a revolving fund pursuant to RSA 31:95-h, for the purpose of Fire Special Details. 80% of all revenues received from Fire Special Details will be deposited into this fund, and the money in the fund shall be allowed to accumulate from year to year, and shall not be considered part of the Town’s general fund unreserved fund balance; furthermore, to raise and appropriate $1 in order to pay for any details until such time as the outside payments are received. The Town Treasurer shall have custody of all monies in the fund, and shall pay out the same only upon order of the Town Administrator and no further approval is required by the legislative body to expend. Such funds may be expended only for the purpose for which the fund was created. RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (7-0), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
• Yes................................664     No................................287
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Article 12: To see if the Town will vote to create a capital reserve fund under the provisions of RSA 35:1, to be known as the Fire Cistern Capital Reserve Fund, for the purpose of repairing and maintaining Town cisterns and to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 for this fund, and to name the Town Administrator as agent to expend. ($0.01 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (7-0), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
• Yes................................642     No................................309
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Article 13: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 to be placed in the Fire Air Packs & Bottles Capital Reserve Fund already established. ($0.02 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (7-0), RECOMMENDED BY BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
• Yes................................653     No................................304
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Article 14: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000 (Fifty Thousand Dollars) to be placed in the Town Building Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund already established. ($0.04 estimated tax rate increase)   RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (7-0), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
• Yes................................493     No................................449
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Article 15: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $9,000 to purchase a Scale Management Computer Program for the Transfer and Recycling Department, to replace an outdated system. Said funds to be withdrawn from the Solid Waste Disposal Special Revenue Fund, with no funds from current year taxation. ($0.00 estimated tax rate increase)   RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (7-0), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
• Yes................................740     No................................225
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Article 16: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Council to enter into a five year lease/purchase agreement for $151,000 for the purpose of leasing a plow-dump truck for the Highway Department, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $30,205 for the first year’s payment for that purpose. This lease agreement contains an escape clause. ($0.02 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (7-0), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
• Yes................................621     No................................335
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Article 17: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $55,000 to purchase a Tractor/Loader/Backhoe for the Highway Department. ($0.04 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (7-0), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
• Yes................................543     No................................413
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Article 18: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 to be placed in the Town-Wide Computer Development Capital Reserve Fund already established. ($0.01 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (7-0), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)

• Yes................................505     No................................449
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Article 19: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $30,000 to be placed in the Emergency Radio Communication Development Capital Reserve Fund already established. ($0.02 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (7-0), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
• Yes................................543     No................................431
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Article 20: To see if the Town will vote to establish a capital reserve fund under the provision of RSA 35:1 for the purpose of a Road Impact Fee Traffic Study and to raise and appropriate the sum of $33,000 to be placed in this fund, and to name the Town Administrator as the agent to expend. ($0.02 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (6-1), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (6-2)
Yes................................379     • No................................584
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Article 21: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $118,294 for the salaries, benefits and taxes for two full-time Truck Driver/Laborers for the Highway and Parks. ($0.09 estimated tax rate increase)   RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (6-1), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
Fiscal Year   Salaries   Overtime   Taxes   Benefits
2008-09       $57,824   $9,592   $5,158   $45,720
• Yes................................507     No................................473
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Article 22: To see if the Town will vote to establish a capital reserve fund under the provision of RSA 35:1 for the purpose of updating the Town of Hooksett’s Master Plan and to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 to be placed in this fund, and to name the Town Administrator as the agent to expend. ($0.01 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (6-1), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
Yes................................432    • No................................527
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Article 23: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,400 for a Part-time Assistant Building/Zoning Inspector. ($0.01 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (6-1), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
Yes................................456     • No................................531
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Article 24: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $129,548 for the salaries, benefits and taxes for two full-time Firefighters/EMT’s for the Fire Department. If this article passes, the operating budget will be reduced $99,672 in overtime for the Fire Department. ($0.02 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (6-1), NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (3-7)
Fiscal Year   Salaries   Taxes   Benefits
2008-09       $73,022   $1,059   $55,467
Yes................................492     • No................................489
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Article 25: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 to be placed in the Parks and Recreation Facilities Development Capital Reserve Fund already established. ($0.01 estimated tax rate increase) RECOMMENDED BY TOWN COUNCIL (4-3), RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE (8-0)
Yes................................481     • No................................494
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Article 26: Shall we adopt provisions of RSA 31:95-c to restrict 100% of revenue from the Town of Hooksett Comcast Franchise fees to expenditures for the purpose of establishing and operating Public Access (PEG) television service for Hooksett. Such revenues and expenditures shall be accounted for in a special revenue fund to be known as the “Town of Hooksett Public TV Access” fund separate from the general fund. Any surplus in said fund shall not be deemed part of the general fund accumulated surplus and shall be expended only after a vote of the legislative body to appropriate a specific amount from said fund for a specific purpose related to the purpose of the fund or source of revenue. SUBMITTED BY PETITION.
Yes................................442     • No................................551

Hooksett election, town candidates, May 13, 2008

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:27:00 GMT

Councilor, at-large, for three years, vote for one
• Michael Pischetola – 531
Stu Werksman – 244
Carl J. Hebert Sr. – 141
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Councilor, District 3, for three years, vote for one
• Paul Loiselle – 147
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Councilor, District 2, for three years, vote for one
• Nancy VanScoy – 136
Jason M. Hyde – 54
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Budget Committee, for three year,s vote for three
• Nancy Comai – 719
(Write-in) Gerald Kearney – 4
(Write-in) Ann Stelmach – 2
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Budget Committee, for one year, vote for one
• Michael Sorel – 725
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Cemetery Commission, for three years, vote for one
• Sharron Champagne – 743
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Library Trustee, for three years, vote for one
• Linda Kleinschmidt – 760
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Sewer Commission, for three years, vote for one
• Roger B. Bergeron – 747
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Supervisor of the Checklist, for six years, vote for one
• Robert K. Ehlers – 747
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Trustee of the Trust Funds, for three years, vote for one
(Write-in) Linda Courtemanche – 12
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Voter turnout: 1,017
Registered voters: 8,605 Turnout: 11.8%

Auburn election results

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:43:00 GMT

Auburn Warrants
Unofficial returns, • denotes winner

To see if the town will adopt the official ballot law (SB2).
• Yes................................538     No................................308
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To see if the school district will adopt the official ballot law (SB2).
• Yes................................537     No................................310
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To see if the town will extend the town treasurer’s term from one year to three years.
• Yes................................624     No................................230

Auburn Town Candidates
Unofficial returns, • denotes winner

Selectman, for three years, vote for one
Harland Eaton – 318
• Paul Raiche – 530
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Town Moderator, for two years, vote for one
• C. Donald Stritch – 783
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Town Clerk, for two years, vote for one
• Joanne T. Linxweiler – 809
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Tax Collector, for two years, vote for one
• Kathleen A. Sylvia – 793
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Library Trustee, for one year, vote for one
• David S. Griffin – 795
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Auburn Village Cemetery Trustee, for three years, vote for one
• (write-in)
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Longmeadow Cemetery Trustee, for three years, vote for one
• Lorraine P. Senechal – 754
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Trust Fund Trustee, for three years, vote for one
• Howard Burgess – 751
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Checklist Supervisor, for six years, vote for one
• Susan N. Jenkins – 762
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Police Commission, for three years, vote for one
• Hubert J. Topliff – 742

Auburn School Candidates
Unofficial returns, • denotes winner

School Board Member, for three years, vote for one
• Elaine T. Hobbs – 655
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Voter turnout: 881
Registered voters: 3,758 Turnout: 23%