Incumbent Selectman Bert Hamill’s seat was overturned at the polls on Tuesday, with political newcomer Shawn Talbot gaining nearly twice the support of New Ipswich voters.
Talbot netted 572 votes to Hamill’s 270.
In the only other contested race this year, Nathan Sikkila and Louis Alvarez were elected to the two three-year seats on the Planning Board, leaving behind third challenger Richard Smeeth.
Hamill also failed to gain traction down-ballot, as two petition articles he proposed were the only articles on the ballot which failed to gain voter approval.
Voters were strongly against a proposed amendment to the town’s noise ordinance, which would have limited “public nuisance” noise after 7 p.m., where the current ordinance limits it to after 10 p.m. The amendment also added language to specify that discharging firearms for recreation was covered under the ordinance.
The noise ordinance was roundly defeated in a 769-217 vote.
Hamill’s second petition article, which would have raised funds over the next four years to build a new police station, gained more support than the proposed noise ordinance but was still defeated easily, in a 645-322 vote.
All other articles on this year’s warrant passed, most by a comfortable margin. The closest vote this year was the proposed budget, with a 71 vote difference. Despite the close vote, voters ultimately supported the $2.51 million budget.