LONDONDERRY — Voting cards were hot pink at Saturday's Town Meeting — hard to miss — and they were mostly used to move articles to a vote.
During the meeting, which last slightly more than five hours, six of the 15 articles presented went to secret ballots, including the town operating budget, and one was deemed close enough for a hand count.
While most articles were approved, the collective bargaining agreement between the town and the Londonderry Administrative Employees Association lost by four votes during a secret ballot.
Just 293 residents attended all or part of the meeting at Londonderry High School. Not everyone was present to vote on every article.
Tim Thompson, town planner and president of the employees association, said before the vote that the association was coming into its third year without a contract and that a "no" vote on the contract would mean that cost-of-living adjustments would not happen, vacation accruals would not be adjusted and sick time carryover cash-out would not be adjusted.
He added that most members of the association would continue to pay 15 percent of the costs of health insurance, instead of the proposed 20 percent in the agreement.
The contract agreement would have increased the tax rate by $0.05 for fiscal 2009, which was more than some residents cared to spend.
The secret ballot added up to 123 "yes" votes and 127 "no" votes.
"As president of the association, I respect the decision of the voters," Thompson said. "That's the beauty of town meeting. I still think it's great in that New Hampshire has that form of government."
Thompson said he would be meeting with officers of the association this week and the rest of the members next week.
"Then it's back to the bargaining table with the town council," he said.
An article that was approved by voters will authorize the Town Council to call a special meeting to address the administrative employees association bargaining agreement.
The town operating budget of $24.9 million passed in a secret ballot without much discussion.
An article for work on the intersection at Mammoth, Bartley Hill, Stonehenge and Litchfield roads was passed even though residents were recently told that the work would cost $1 million more than originally planned, with the state paying two-thirds of the cost. Voters approved $698,000, with the state funding $1,396,000.
Article 17 to use $1.8 million from the Conservation Commission fund to build the North-West Fire Station failed. The citizens petition, headed up by Sean O'Keefe and Tom Freda, was declared illegal by Superior Court, and it has been appealed to the Supreme Court.
After voters rejected the measure, Councilor Marty Bove asked the plaintiffs to withdraw the appeal to save the town $10,000 in legal costs.
For more photos and the results of Town Meeting, see page 11
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New Council Officers
Following Town Meeting, the newly elected councilors, Paul DiMarco and Mike Brown, joined the other members for a vote of council officers.
Marty Bove was elected chairman.
Kathy Wagner received a nomination by Paul DiMarco for vice chairman, but no one seconded it. Mike Brown then nominated Brian Farmer for vice chairman and it was seconded by Bove.
Wagner was nominated for clerk, but she declined and the position went to Paul DiMarco.
