By 3 votes, Chester eliminates school district meeting

By Julie Huss
Staff writer

May 16, 2008 10:01 am

CHESTER — Robert Brown, a lifelong Chester resident who owns a construction company, was elected to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday.

With his campaign slogan of "Let's get back to basics," the former town road agent beat incumbent Mike Weider and candidates Paul Krafton and Joseph Castricone for one of the two available seats. Incumbent Steph Landau also won another term.

The face of the School Board remains the same. Three unchallenged incumbents were re-elected Tuesday.

Voters also approved a petitioned article that will change Chester's voting method in the school district to the so-called SB2 format, which Senate Bill, or SB2, format, which eliminates the March school district meeting in favor of ballot voting on school issues.

Needing a three-fifths majority for approval, the article squeaked by with only three votes to spare, 351-229. It needed 348 votes to pass.

Resident Dianna Charron told the School Board earlier this year that she believed SB2 was wrong for Chester.

"We come to the meetings, we listen to the School Board," Charron said. "This is the process we use, and I think we can have a fair process. I hope we keep it that way."

The School Board did not recommend passage of the article, which was submitted as a petition by resident Dave Clark.

Unchallenged uncumbents Kevin Scott and Robert Grimm won new terms in the school district, as moderator and clerk, respectively.

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Photos


Chester: Aaron Landau, far right, checks in to vote on Tuesday at the annual voting day. Seated from left to right are poll workers Lynn Rockwell, Brian Gordon, Sally St. Clair and Debbie Crabb. Staff photo


Chester: Chester resident Cheryl Marsella votes on Tuesday at the annual voting day. Staff photo