A recount in Rindge has changed the results of a warrant article vote but left the results of a contested budget advisory committee race unchanged. 

Voters will now be asked to raise $5,000 for the Rindge 250 Expendable Trust Fund to help support the cost that comes with planned events to celebrate the town’s 250th anniversary. 

“Obviously I’m happy,” said Selectwoman Roberta Oeser, who requested the recount. “I am surprised by the change in numbers.”

Monday’s recount  showed 725 in favor of the article and 706 against. Official election results from voting on March 13 had those in favor and opposed tied at 715 a piece, meaning the article originally did not pass as a majority is required. 

“I think it has to do with the ballots that had to be recounted [on voting day] because they weren’t read by the voting machine,” said Town  Clerk Nancy Martin, of the discrepancy. 

Martin said some ballots are rejected from the voting machine and have to be recounted. 

There was less of a change for the contested budget advisory committee race.

David Graham and Cheryl McCabe-Charron will still be elected to serve three-year terms on the committee. Graham’s votes totaled 591 from voting day and after the recount, while McCabe-Charron lost one of her 586 votes after the recount.

Challenger Karl Pruter added one vote to his original count of 580, while Phillip Motta lost one of his 535 votes. 

No one asked for a recount of a warrant article passed on March 13 that will allow the selectmen to enter a lease/purchase agreement for $450,000 to purchase a new fire truck. The official vote was 707 in favor, 700 opposed, with the article needing a majority to pass.

RSA 40:4-c says any ten voters of a town can apply in writing for a recount of the ballots cast, provided they do so within seven days of the date of the annual or special meeting in question. The applicants of a recount pay the town clerk a $10 fee for conducting the recount. 

Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.