SOUTHAMPTON — While there are no contested races in Southampton’s annual town election on Tuesday, there are several empty seats on multiple committees.
Among the vacancies are three empty seats for the Finance Committee: a one-year term, a two-year term and a three-year term. Donna Whiteley, whose term expires this year, chose not to run again. This leaves the committee with two members: Vicki Moro, whose term expires in 2024, and Barbara Symborski, whose term expires next year.
“It’s a concern. No one came forth at the caucus,” said Chris Fowles, chairperson of the Select Board. “We put a call out and tried to recruit people who have backgrounds in finance, but we can’t seem to find people who are willing or have the time to commit to the committee.”
Fowles said there is always a possibility that people could step up as write-ins in the election, which will be held on Tuesday, May 17 from noon to 8 p.m.
The Personnel Policies and Procedures Board also has three vacancies: a one-year term, a two-year term and a three-year term.
The board maintains the town’s centralized personnel record system, monitors the effectiveness of rules, regulations, procedures and practices. It also reviews the town’s classification and compensation plans, and evaluates and classifies positions and reviews requests for reclassification.
Member Kristie Ann Slattery resigned from the board in September, and members Robin Richard and Derek Geser resigned in October, according to Town Clerk Luci Dalton.
Joann Alderman and Donna Whiteley were appointed to that board in November, according to Fowles. However, their term expires on election day, leaving John Lumbra, Select Board liaison, as the sole member of the board.
Running unopposed for re-election are: Robert Floyd for town moderator; Chris Fowles for Select Board; Faith Harrison for almoner; April T. West for Board of Assessors; Leah Carrasquillo for Board of Health; William A Wells for Cemetery Commission; Paul Frugal for Planning Board; Dylan Mawdsley for School Committee at William E. Norris School; Ronald D. Laurin for tree warden; and Joseph F. Slattery for Water Commission.
Newcomers Carol Barcomb and Catherine Thibodeau are running for the two School Committee seats at Hampshire Regional High School.
Janet L. Cain and Joy A. Piper are running unopposed for the two vacant seats on the Housing Authority.
There are six library trustees seats on the ballot, which include Pamela Bernier, Mark Domina, Jessica Hufnagle and Jessica McConnell who are running for re-election, and newcomers Tracy Collins and Carolyn McKeown.
Newcomer Patrick Martin is running for one of the two vacant seats on the Park Commission.
There is also a question on the ballot asking voters whether they support a Proposition 2½ debt-exclusion override to pay for the purchase of a new wheel loader for the highway department. If the question is approved, it will go before voters at the annual Town Meeting with a formal dollar amount, according to Dalton.
This election also will be the first time that voters cast their ballots as a two-precinct town. Initially, Dalton was under the impression from the state Elections Division that the town’s approximately 4,400 registered voters would have to vote in two different locations with the new designation, but that has been amended. All voters will cast their ballot at the Senior Center, 210 College Highway.
However, as a two-precinct town, Southampton is still required to have two voting machines. Poll workers have been receiving training on the Dominion Voting Systems ImageCast Precinct 2 tabulators since they were first delivered to the town in February.
The state Elections Division divided the town into two voting precincts as a result of Southampton’s increase in population. According to the 2020 federal census, the town’s population climbed from 5,792 residents to 6,224 residents between 2010 and 2020. The town’s 7.5% increase in population was the highest percentage increase in Hampshire County.
When the population reaches 6,200 people, state law mandates that a town add a second precinct.
Since that count was performed, Dalton says the population has decreased. According to her, the town’s population is now 5,971. Despite that drop in population, she says the town can’t revert back to being a single-precinct town.
Poll workers will be on hand to direct voters to where each precinct will have to assemble, said Assistant Town Clerk Sabina McCarthy. She noted that there will be extensive signage to help avoid any confusion.
A representative from the voting machine supplier, LHS Associates, of Salem, New Hampshire, will also be on hand at the election to ensure that the new tabulators are working efficiently, said Dalton.
“We’re all ready,” she said.
Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.