Bennington will not be hiring a third police officer after voters on Tuesday rejected Article 30, which proposed the town hire a third full-time police officer for $120,000. Just 69 voters cast ballots in favor of the article, and 112 voted against it.

The town’s Select Board supported the proposal, citing Bennington’s reliance on the State Police during uncovered hours, and recent crime in town.

Bennington, which is an SB2 town and votes on warrant articles at town elections rather than at Town Meeting, had 191 ballots cast, which represented 18% of the town’s registered voters. Five new voters registered at the polls on Tuesday.

Voters supported all other warrant articles, including funds for bridges, roads, water and sewer, police and fire equipment, police vehicles, and the library.

The town also supported an article for $1750 to bring wireless internet access to the VFW Hall, which is owned by the town and currently undergoing repairs.

Bennington had no contested races this year. Tony Parisi was re-elected to the Select Board, and Mary Eppig was re-elected as library trustee. Melissa Searles was elected as supervisor of the checklist with 176 votes, and longtime Moderator John Cronin III was re-elected with 175 votes.

Michael Munhall was elected as trustee of the trust funds with 156 votes. For the Planning Board, Joseph MacGregor was elected with 169 votes, and Jeffrey Rose, with 136 votes.

No one ran for the position on the Water and Sewer Commission, with 15 write-candidates proposed by voters. Dennis McKenney received the highest number of write-in votes, with nine.

Mary Searles received the highest number of votes as a write-in candidate for cemetery trustee, and Cory Lawrence received the highest number of votes for Planning Board with 17 votes. Both Joe MacGregor and Tyler Howe received three votes, and the town will meet with both candidates determine who will fill the slot.

Bennington voted down the ConVal budget by four votes, with 92 in favor and 96 against.

Bennington residents voted against Francestown’s bid for withdrawal, with 62 votes in favor, 125 against.

The town supported the district’s proposal to comply with state laws regarding open enrollment, with 107 people in favor, 79 against.