HATFIELD — An incumbent member of the Board of Health was defeated for reelection, while residents already serving on the School Committee and Planning Board retained their seats, and a Proposition 2 ½ debt exclusion ballot question to pay the town’s share of a water and sewer project was approved at town elections Tuesday.
Based on unofficial results, Elizabeth Jane Kugler, of Porter Avenue, ousted incumbent Kerry E. Flaherty, of Primrose Path, for a three-year position on the Board of Health, in a 368-306 vote.
Rebecca Williams Bench, of Depot Road, who was appointed to the School Committee to fill a vacancy last August, will continue to serve on the committee after receiving 458 votes, while Christy L. Boudreau, of Main Street, won the second available seat with 327 votes. David Robert Keir, of Bridge Street, and Charles W. DeRose, of Horse Mountain Road, trailed with 310 and 107 votes, respectively.
In the only other contested election, Planning Board incumbent Stephanie Elizabeth Slysz, of Straits Road, held onto the five-year position over Elizabeth Beringer, of Cronin Hill Road, in a 476-192 vote.
The debt-exclusion override passed by a vote of 365 to 290, means that the town will be able to spend $1.6 million to cover its share of a sewer and water infrastructure improvement project on Route 5, with the remaining money coming from a $2 million MassWorks Infrastructure Program state grant.
The project will support the operations of businesses on Route 5, including Scapes Builders & Excavation, Brockway Smith and Stiebel Eltron, and Stiebel’s planned expansion that has been contingent on the extension of the sewer system.
Incumbents who won reelection in uncontested races include Brian F. Moriarty, of Maple Street, for a three-year position on the Select Board, Ronald J. Punska, of Maple Street, for a three-year term on the Board of Assessors, Jonathan W. Bardwell, of Main Street, for a three-year term on the Cemetery Commission, Marsha L. Humphrey, of North Street, for a three-year position as library trustee, William J. Betsold, Jr., of Circle Drive, for a one-year post as elector under the Oliver Smith Will, Joseph A. Lavallee Sr., of Main Street, for a three-year term as moderator and Lydia Szych, of Main Street, for a three-year position as town clerk.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
