In addition to voting on several warrant articles, New Ipswich voters rejected the proposed town budget, placing the town under a default budget for the coming year.

Voters overwhelmingly opposed the proposed $4.03 million budget, defeating it 904–458. The default budget is set at $3.86 million.

Voters did approve several warrant articles, including two measures funding road improvements totaling $600,000. The town traditionally splits the request into two articles so that if voters support only one, some roadwork can still proceed. Voters approved the $350,000 article in an 876–469 vote and the $250,000 article in a 736–607 vote.

Voters also approved funding for the Souhegan Valley Ambulance contract at a cost of $165,288, passing the article 868–476.

In another article, voters approved the sale of the town’s 2001 International fire vehicle and adding the $15,000 in proceeds to the Fire Department Capital Reserve Fund, 1,199–169.

Multiple articles fail

Voters decisively rejected a proposal to add a seventh full-time police officer Tuesday.

The position would have cost $74,814 for six months of salary and benefits this year, with the full annual cost of $149,628 to be included in future police budgets. Voters rejected the article 1,065–303.

Voters also rejected a $45,000 request to support the New Ipswich Library. The library is not a town department but has traditionally relied on taxpayer support from the town. The article was the closest vote of the day, failing 689–656.

Voters also rejected a slate of capital reserve and expendable trust fund requests. The article would have raised a total of $391,000 to fund accounts used to save over multiple years for large purchases such as vehicles and equipment replacement. The funding was divided among nine accounts, with requests ranging from $95,000 to $5,000. The article failed 759–573.

A proposal to improve the town’s emergency communications system also failed. The article sought $180,000 to upgrade and relocate communications equipment to the cell tower on Old Rindge Road to help bridge service gaps for police, fire and highway departments, which have reported needing to rely on cell phones during emergencies when radios lose signal. Voters rejected the measure 723–641.

Petition articles

Several warrant articles were submitted by petition this year, with all but one receiving majority voter support.

The only petition article to fail outright was a proposal to expand the town’s Select Board from three members to five. Voters rejected the measure 702–613.

A petition to enact a budget cap received majority support in a 774–521 vote but failed to reach the three-fifths supermajority required for passage. The article also did not use the language prescribed by law and would have been considered advisory even if it had passed.

Voters did approve using town funds to provide $9,970 in support to 12 regional health and community service organizations. The article passed 762–574.

Three additional petition articles passed but may be unlawful or unenforceable, according to an analysis by the town’s legal counsel.

One article requires the Select Board to comply with RSA 673:5 when appointing members to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, including appointing members to three-year terms and reappointing members to a second term before their first term expires. Under the article, any member who is not officially reappointed before their term expires would have any vote cast at a meeting deemed null and void. The measure passed 772–555.

State law governing zoning board appointments allows members to continue serving until a replacement is appointed.

Another petition article originally would have limited Zoning Board of Adjustment members to two consecutive three-year terms, or six years total, with at least one term off before a member could be appointed again. It also required any member exceeding that limit to resign within 90 days of the warrant’s passage. At the deliberative session, the article was amended to state that appointed members are limited to “terms as deemed appropriate by the Selectmen.” The amended article passed 757–571.

Another article would make it unlawful for anyone with a felony plea or conviction to serve as a Select Board member, town administrator, town clerk, or in any position with accounting responsibility. It also states that anyone in those positions with a felony plea or conviction must resign or refuse election or appointment. The article passed 864–490.

According to the town’s legal analysis, however, the Select Board and town clerk are elected positions and are only required to meet qualifications outlined in state law, such as being a U.S. citizen and living in town. The Select Board does have authority as an employer to impose restrictions related to felony convictions on hired employees, such as the town administrator, and may conduct background checks.

Somero wins Select Board seat

Joe Somero won a decisive victory in the four-way race for a single Select Board seat, finishing well ahead of the field with 682 votes. His nearest competitor, Alan Doyle, received 231 votes, followed by Matthew Lacoe with 194 and Venanzio Carbone with 153.

In another contested race, Cammie Somero and Diane Knisley won seats on the Planning Board in a four-way race for two positions. Knisley received 776 votes and Somero 677, ahead of Lyla Buxton with 402 votes and Robert Fournier with 273.

William Seppala won the race for a three-year seat on the Cemetery Trustees, receiving 813 votes to Gregory Bruno’s 410.

All other races on the ballot were uncontested. Robert Romeril received 1,196 votes for moderator; Susan White received 1,135, Robert Turner 1,064 and Deborah Desantis 1,075 for three seats as supervisor of the checklist; Carlene Wardwell received 1,129 votes for treasurer; and Jeffrey Carter with 1,020 and Robert Zinmeister with 1,012 won two seats as trustees of the trust funds.