Lou Alvarez won his first term as a New Ipswich Select Board member, winning by less than 50 votes over John Severino.
Alvarez garnered 361 votes to Severino’s 312, as both men battled it out for the seat left empty by outgoing Select Board member Bert Hamill, who was appointed to the seat after the resignation of John Veeser and chose not to put his hat in the ring for another term.
This is Alvarez’s first foray as a selectman, but he has municipal experience, including serving on the town’s Planning Board for the past four years.
In the only other contested race this year, for two seats on the Planning Board, Raymond Somero made a led the way with 480 votes. Deirdre “Dee” Daley, who is the current chair of the board, maintained her seat with the second-most votes at 359. John Schaumloffel, a current board member, came in third with 245 votes, losing his seat.
All other races on the ballot were uncontested.
Voters approve entirety of the warrant
Residents approved all 16 articles on this year’s warrant, with no close calls. The budget was this year’s most-contentious article, but still passed by a 451-324 vote. This year’s budget is $2.9 million. Had it failed, the default budget would have been $2.7 million.
Voters supported large articles to continue roadwork on New Ipswich’s roadways, an ongoing request which townspeople have routinely supported for multiple years. The town requested a total of $600,000 – split into two articles, one asking for $350,000 and the other for $250,000, a strategy the town has used to allow residents to support at least some roadwork, even if they do not support the entire cost. As in previous years, both articles passed, with the first by a margin of 605-183 and the second by 561-221.
Voters also approved the acceptance of a block grant of $147,250 from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation for the maintenance of town roads.
Voters approved eight additions to the town’s capital reserves or expendable trusts, in a 476-293 vote. The total of $288,500 consists of $95,000 for the Highway Department, $50,000 for the Fire Department, $20,000 for fire protection equipment, $50,000 for the Police Department, $6,000 for pool maintenance, $2,5000 for parks and recreation, $30,000 for the town revaluation and $35,000 for building maintenance. The purpose of these funds is to create a savings account which is added to over multiple years for more-expensive purchases, to avoid a single request that could heavily impact the tax rate in a single year.
Voters also approved in a 652-131 vote raising $10,515 to fund regional services that provide resources to town residents, such as the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention, Meals on Wheels, St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, the American Red Cross and other nonprofits and services.
The town also agreed to continue to contract with the Souhegan Valley Ambulance Service, which provides medical transport for residents in the area, at a cost of $114,100.
The New Ipswich Library, which is not a town department but provides library services for the town, also received support, with voters approving $40,000 in town funding for library services in a 542-240 vote.
The town approved the discontinuation of two capital reserve funds that were previously for the maintenance of the town landfill, which has since been capped and the funds no longer used. About $90,000 will be added to the town’s general fund. The town also gave the go-ahead for the Trustees of the Trust Funds and Select Board to investigate how to close another defunct fund which was once used to pay the town minister, a position which has not been filled since the 1800s.
The town also agreed to abolish previous road and highway advisory committees.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.