Grafton voters turn down library propsal

Daniel Moore, middle, listens outside the Grafton, N.H., polls on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, as Ken Pelletier, left, tells Grafton Library Trustee Debbie Clough, right, that when the town failed to plow his road after a snow storm this week, he had to plow the road himself to reach his neighbors. Clough was campaigning for voter support on a petitioned article to raise and appropriate $996,000 for a new library with much of the funding to come from the Community Center Investment Program through the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority. "If this doesn't pass, I don't know what we'll do next," said Clough. "If you can't give a town a million dollars, I don't know what else." (Valley News - James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. valley news — James M. Patterson

Grafton Selectboard member Steve Darrow, right, talks with supervisor of the checklist Denise Smith, left, during voting at the Grafton, N.H., fire and ambulance station, on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Darrow, who was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Selectboard, is on the ballot to finish the two remaining years of the term running against Maureen O'Reilly. (Valley News - James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. valley news — James M. Patterson

Published: 03-13-2024 10:43 PM

GRAFTON — Steve Darrow defeated Maureen O’Reilly for a two-year seat on the Selectboard in ballot voting on Tuesday, 180 to 125.

In an uncontested race, voters also elected Ed Grinley to a three-year term on the board.

Voters rejected, 181 to 158, a petitioned article — supported by the Budget Committee, but not recommended by the Selectboard — to raise and appropriate $996,000 for a new library at 2 Library Road, also known as the Gray Lot.

An article to give the Selectboard authority to acquire or sell property was narrowly approved, 167 to 165.

Voters supported, 181 to 141, a petitioned article to subdivide the property known as the East Grafton Union Church and parsonage and sell the vacant parsonage to neighbor Andrew Cushing.

They also supported a third petitioned article — supported by the Budget Committee, but not the Selectboard — to raise $13,000 to bring back a demolition container to the recycling center for residents’ use.

Voters approved a budget of $1.35 million, as well as separate articles calling for $100,000 for the Highway Department Capital Reserve Fund, $75,000 for paving town roads, $50,000 for the Bridge Capital Reserve Fund, $15,000 for the Town Hall Repairs Capital Reserve Fund, $15,000 for the Property Tax Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund, and $10,000 each for a Fire Department Apparatus Capital Reserve Fund and a Recycling Capital Reserve Fund.

They also approved an article to establish a Police Department Special Detail Revolving Fund.

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