HADLEY — A longtime resident at Golden Court, the state housing project for low-income senior citizens and disabled individuals, will join the Board of Commissioners for the Hadley Housing Authority after narrowly winning a contested election Tuesday.
Sue C. Oppenheimer, who has lived at the site for 20 years, will replace John Allen on the panel after he chose not to seek a second, five-year term. Oppenheimer earned election by a 12-vote margin, 204-192, over Tracey Reilly, an 18-month resident at Golden Court.
In the only other contest, Emma M.H. Dragon, who was appointed to the Board of Health last year, more than doubled the total for John C. Waskiewicz, a former Select Board member. That vote was 296-143 in favor of Dragon.
The lack of major contests on the ballot, with incumbent Select Board, School Committee and Planning Board members not facing challengers, limited turnout to 454 of 3,811 registered voters, or 12%, according to unofficial results provided by Town Clerk Jessica Spanknebel.
Incumbents were reelected to the Select Board, where Jane H. Nevinsmith earned a second, three-year term; School Committee, where Tara M. Brugger won a third, three-year term, and Ethan Percy won a second three-year term; and Planning Board, where current chairman, and 40-year member, James J. Maksimoski, won a ninth, five-year term.
Other incumbents winning reelection included William R. Banack, whose 362 votes were more than anyone else on the ballot received, for a three-year term on Board of Assessors; Dr. Susan Mosler for a three-year term on Board of Health; James W. Shea for a three-year term on Park Commission; and Maureen K. Devine for a one-year term as Elector under the Oliver Smith Will.
Jo-Ann Konieczny, a former trustee, and John Hallock, won the two, three-year library trustee positions.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
