Londonderry approves Charter Commission

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March 10, 2010

Voters approve Charter Commission

By Suzanne Laurent

LONDONDERRY — Tom Dolan and John Farrell will take seats on the Town Council vacated by Kathy Wagner and Brian Farmer. Meg Seymour will keep her position as town clerk/tax collector, the town will have a Charter Commission and resolution to define marriage was approved.

Turnout was higher than expected Tuesday with 3,214 out of 17,036 registered voters casting votes at Londonderry High School. Seventy-five new voters registered at the polls, compared to just 12 last year.

Resident Maria Newman said she votes every year, no matter what is on the ballot.

"I am passionate about certain things, but would be here anyway," she said.

Dolan and Farrell beat out three other contestants — Tim Siekmann, Tom Freda and Joe Green — for the two councilor seats.

Dolan said he was "pleased to see the voter turnout so high."

"Now if we can drive the numbers up for Town Meeting, that would be great," he said. "I'm looking forward to joining up with John Farrell and working on the development opportunities with the industrial park and now with the sale of Woodmont Orchards."

Farrell's two daughters, Meredith and Mackensie, could barely conceal their excitement while waiting for the results.

"I'm so proud of my dad," Mackensie said.

Farrell said he was flattered and humbled by the results.

"I truly believe in Londonderry," he said.

Seymour, who has served three terms as town clerk/tax collector, was challenged this year by newcomer Deborah Nowicki. Seymour won with 2,039 votes to Nowicki's 748.

"I'm thankful to the community for its support," Seymour said of her win. "I will continue to provide excellent service to the town."

Nowicki said she was grateful for all the voters who came out and for those who held signs for her during the day.

Voters passed the resolution to define marriage brought forth by Rep. Al Baldasaro, 1,655 to 1,471.

One resident, Kathleen Bresnahan, said she found the language of the article to be confusing.

But Baldasaro said he was glad that "people stood up and did the right thing."

"Come January, there will be a constitutional amendment," he said.

Residents also voted to establish a Charter Commission and elected nine people out of 21 candidates to serve on it. They are Al Baldasaro Marty Bove Brian Farmer, Lara McIntyre, Cris Navarro, Chris Paul, Deb Paul, Kathy Wagner and Steve Young.

Lisa Whittemore and John Curran won the two open seats on the Budget Committee, beating out Dan Lekas.

Elizabeth Durkin won a seat for a three-year term on as a Trustee of the Trust Fund over Scott Knox.

The $1,048,000 bond issue for highway reconstruction received the 60 percent of the vote needed to pass.

On the school side, there were no contested races. The School Board's proposed $63.5 million budget passed, as did all other articles, except the proposed quorum amendment to the school district charter. That would have reduced the required number of voters from 500 to 350, but the article was defeated.

The Londonderry Support Staff bargaining agreement passed by 1,228 votes.

A steady crowd came through the doors of the high school gymnasium throughout the day and members of ALERT helped with the flow of traffic in the parking lot.

Reed P. Clark III had his table of items from the Historical Society for sale, while other members sold coffee and pastries. Girl Scout Troop 20794 conducted Operation Cookie, selling boxes of cookies along with New Hampshire postcards donated by Hannaford's that people could write a note to a soldier that was attached to the purchased box.