By Richard Price
Grafton News Editor –
Incumbent Craig Dauphinais and former Planning Board Chair Sargon Hanna were the top vote-getters in the Tuesday night Selectmen race. The unofficial results from the Town Clerk’s office posted 1,049 votes for Dauphinais, 970 for Hanna and 866 for Ed Prisby who was also running for his first term on the Board.
The other open seats for school committee, town clerk, planning board, library trustees, and housing authority were unopposed races. As a write-in candidate, Teri Turgeon, with 163 votes, was elected to the school committee for a one-year term to fill a vacancy.
Turnout was light, 15 percent, with about 1,700 ballots cast in all.
Although this will be his fourth term as Selectman, Dauphinais said it still feels wonderful to win. “I’m thankful for the turnout,” he said adding that one of his first items to tackle is to focus on economic development and to take a fresh look at the $13.8 million Department of Public Works project which failed to get enough votes at last week’s annual Town Meeting. Dauphinais said the town needs to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new plan that will be more palatable for taxpayers. He said his other priority is to work closer with appointed committees such as the Economic Development Committee, the Capital Improvement Planning Committee and Affordable Housing.
Dauphinais said although he was the incumbent he believed his victory was also tied into being a lifelong resident. “I know a lot of people in the community,” he said. “But I feel I’m also defined by my actions. I’m fair, approachable and honest.”
Hanna was equally jubilant but said now that the election is over, “the hard part is ahead.”
He said Dauphinais and Prisby were both respected in the community and that no matter who won, the town could not go wrong. “I’m fortunate to win,” he said. Like Dauphinais, Hanna said one of his top priorities is to spur economic development. “We need to address how we treat businesses,” he said. “And do what we can to bring new businesses in.”
Voters were also against Question one on the ballot, the Proposition 2 ½ override to fund the DPW facility. Although it did not get the required two-third majority at Town Meeting, those who went to the polls reinforced that choice. There were 986 votes against the multimillion dollar plan, 586 in favor.
They were more split on buying new fire trucks. On Question two, 804 were in favor of purchasing a new $408,000 fire tanker, 768 against. Question three, which sought a Proposition 2 ½ override for a $367,200 fire pumper showed 745 in favor but 825 against. At Town Meeting, the two warrant articles were passed over. Selectmen will seek a third party consultant to review the current equipment. In April, they were concerned the then funding proposal would be too onerous for taxpayers, especially those living on a fixed income. Town Administrator Tim McInerney and Fire Chief Michael Gauthier said, on a past meeting, a lease agreement might be a better solution.
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