Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The race was uncontested.
Their race was uncontested, so Douglas Bowman, Diane A. Libbey and Carrie Hogan knew going into election day that they would be assured seats on the Board of Library Trustees. Bowman and Libbey were re-elected. Hogan is a newcomer. Incumbent Judith Meichelbeck did not run for re-election. Hogan received the most votes with 1,099 votes. Bowman got 1,061 votes. Libbey received 1,054 votes. A total of 1,791 voters went to the polls yesterday, out of a total of 11,741 town voters.
Jennifer O'Neil was one of nearly 30 candidates written in at yesterday's vote.
Apparently someone doesn’t think Town Assessor Jennifer O’Neil has enough on her plate in her full-time job. She also got a write-in vote for School Committee. Informed of the write-in this morning, O’Neil said she was flattered, but thought the vote might be a bit misguided. “I don’t even have a child in the school system, so I don’t keep up with the school business,’’ she said, chuckling. “So I wouldn’t be a good School Committee candidate.’’ Hers wasn’t the only name written in by voters at yesterday’s election. Nearly 30 names got at least one write-in vote. Some are known on the national stage, others are very recognizable in town. But all share one common denominator: They fell far short of the winning totals. Others who received …
Testing is mandatory in certain situations.
With Monday’s approval of a bylaw that allows residents to own chickens by right, the Board of Health reminds residents that free testing is available for chickens. Poultry owners can have their chickens tested for salmonella pullorum and avian influenza. The Board of Health offers three reminders: 1. If you sell or give away hatching eggs, chicks or grown birds, they must be from a tested flock, according to Massachusetts general law. 2. If poultry leaves your property for exhibition, they must also be from a tested flock. 3. Test your flock annually; test all chickens, turkeys, upland game birds, guinea or peafowl over 16 weeks of age. To arrange for your free testing call the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources at 617-…
He defeated Bruce Spinney to win another term.
Voters returned Brook Padgett to the Board of Selectmen tonight. Padgett received 1,002 votes to defeat challenger Bruce Spinney, who earned 778 votes. Celebrating his victory with family and friends at his North Street home, Padgett thanked his supporters. He described the campaign as a "hard race.'' "I'm very grateful for all the support I got,'' he said. "I look forward to the next three years getting something done.''
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Scully wins the most votes of all candidates in all races.
Newcomer Michael Scully won a seat on the Planning Board _ and the highest number of votes among all races in the election. Scully won 1,084 votes and topped all five precincts. Veteran Planning Board member Bob Hassinger also won, taking 836 votes. He was seeking re-election. Newcomer Robert Sims was not successful in his effort, placing third with 704 votes. Sims and Scully were vying for the open seat on the board held by Bruce Spinney, who ran unsuccessfully for selectman. Scully was grateful for the big vote. “I worked hard to earn every single vote,’’ he said. “I tried to meet as many people as I could. I didn’t take anything for granted.’’ The vote by precinct: Precinct 1: Hassinger, 149; Scully, 197; Sims, 146. Precinct 2: …
Newcomer Maggie McDonald falls short.
Kathy Halloran and Peter Carlson will return to the School Committee. The two incumbents defeated challenger Maggie McDonald. Carlson topped the field with 1,051 votes, followed closely by Halloran with 1,039 votes. McDonald fell short with 779 votes. “I always felt it was an honor and a privilege to serve,’’ Halloran said after the votes were tallied. “This really drove it home.’’ Carlson said he was “very excited to be re-elected,’’ Carlson said. “I hope to serve with the same honor and distinction’’ that he has shown in the past. He also congratulated McDonald. “I would like to thank her for her dedication to the schools,’’ he said. “I hope she stays’’ involved. The vote by precinct: Precinct 1: Carlson, 199; Halloran, 175; McDonald, …
Encouraging public transportation has many benefits, the congressman says.
U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Massachusetts, visited the Grafton MBTA station this morning to make the case for extending tax benefits for commuters. “It shouldn’t cost more to travel to work than your paycheck,’’ he said, his comments at times drowned out by the rumble of the commuter trains. Currently, commuters who drive to work and park are eligible for up to $240 in pre-tax benefits per month from their employer. By contrast, in January 2012 commuters taking mass transit such as commuter rail, subways, buses or vanpools saw their benefit drop from $230 to $125 a month. Failing to extend equivalent tax benefits to commuters only encourages people to use their own vehicles, which creates gridlock on the roads, adds to pollution and …
42.24786
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1 Pine St, North Grafton, MA
/articles/mcgovern-fights-for-commuter-benefits
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Barely 500 voters have cast ballots as of 11:30.
Turnout at today's election has been light, Town Clerk Maureen Clark reports. As of 11:30, 514 voters had cast ballots out of 11,000 registered voters. "Hopefully, it will pick up,'' she said. A number of voters tend to vote after work, she said. Voting ends at 8 p.m. at Grafton Elementary School.
42.19921
-71.71091
Grafton Elementary School
105 Millbury St, Grafton, MA
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802563
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The tax costs more to collect than the amount of money taken in, the assessor says.
There’s a definite agricultural flair to this year’s election season. Town Meeting voters were asked about backyard chickens and animals on the Common. And today’s ballot vote includes a question about taxing farm animals. When voters go to the polls tomorrow, they will be asked a ballot question about ending the excise tax placed on certain farm animals and machinery. The total value of farm animals as listed by the Animal Inspector in the 2010 Town Report is $108,056, Town Assessor Jennifer O’Neil said. That would result in a total tax bill of $540. The cost of mailing the bills, processing the accounts and preparing assessments would likely exceed this figure, O’Neil said. Farm machinery not registered with the Registry of Motor …
42.19921
-71.71091
Grafton Elementary School
105 Millbury St, Grafton, MA
/articles/tax-on-farm-animals-voters-to-decide
802563
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The polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Grafton Elementary School.
The wait is over: Today is election day. Voters can go to the polls from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Grafton Elementary School, 105 Millbury St. There are three contested races. For selectmen, two candidates are seeking the one available seat: Brook Padgett (incumbent) Bruce Spinney For School Committee, three candidates are seeking two available seats: Peter Carlson (incumbent) Kathleen Halloran (incumbent) Margaret McDonald For Planning Board, three candidates are seeking two available seats: Robert Hassinger Michael Scully Robert Sims Three candidates are seeking the three available seats on the Board of Library Trustees: Douglas Bowman Diane Libbey Carrie Hogan Voters will also be asked a question about whether to cease collecting excise…
42.19921
-71.71091
Grafton Elementary School
105 Millbury St, Grafton, MA
/articles/grafton-goes-to-polls-today
802563
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Laura Often
7:43 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Congratulations Carrie! And can I just add that I admire you and the other trustees for want to tackle this challenge. I really appreciate it! more ›