Election Results | Some Significant Changes

About 30% – or 700 voters – cast ballots on May 13.  The Town’s official results chart is here.   There were several offices up for election, but the two most important are the Select Board and the Planning Board.

• Select Board – Incumbent Chair Sue Areason and returning Members, John Dundas won their three-year terms on the SB with wide leads  (585 and 490, respectively)  over Bob Weinstein (183).  While Mr. Weinstein had served on the SB for several terms and had a long history of service on other Town Committees, he had recently ben criticized for uncivil conduct towards citizens and had been the subject of a request from the Ad Hoc Building Committee to remove him as liaison.   Areson has been credited with restoring more civility and transparency on the SB.  Dundas was considered an experienced addition as well.  We thank Mr. Weintstein for his service and look forward to continuing the progress voters have demanded for a more civil, fair, and open Select Board.
• Planning Board – Two experienced Planning Board Members – Paul Kiernan and Jack Riemer – lost their seats to two “newbies” –  Eric Jansen and Harlen Howard – who have never served on any prior Town Committees. Riemer and Kiernan had been vocal opponent to the Walsh Overlay District and pad a price for it, apparently.   The new PB members have been credited with being smart, attentive and receptive –  and we hope this trumps their lack of experience and knowledge at a time when the Town faces the most serious development challenges in its history. With the exception of one member, the current Planning Board comes from a small coterie of friends who have homogenous views on development, housing, and zoning.  We will be keen to see if they consider and express diverse opinions and perspectives going forward.
• Ballot measures – Four much needed measures passed –  for mitigation of PFAS at Town Hall Hill,  stormwater infrastructure on Pond (Road, School HVAC and roof repairs, and the new Solar Electricity Generation project.

Most other races were unopposed except for Library Trustee, where Mary Aby prevailed 2:1 over Ann Courtney.