ANDOVER — Selectmen learned Tuesday night that a majority of residents back their proactive bid to leverage $68,000 to keep Andover Elementary School open.
The results of town meeting balloting on the referendum question and municipal elections came after 308 residents voted from 4 to 8 p.m.
Head Selectman Susan Merrow said the referendum vote passed by a tally of 210 yes, 97 no.
“It was great,” she said. “It’s a real vote of confidence.”
The board is attempting to negotiate an agreement with SAD 44 by paying the district up to $68,000 to continue operation of the school for the 2012-13 school year.
Last year, a majority of SAD 44 directors voted to close the school, but Andover residents refused to throw in the towel. They raised and appropriated $214,000 in June to keep it open.
Prior to the vote, selectmen said the $68,000 will cover the utilities for the building and pay the school’s principal. They hope that will be enough to convince the School Board not to vote to close the school.
In municipal elections, Judith Tabb won the three-year selectman seat, garnering 155 votes to opponent Kimberly Peare-Gautreau’s 148 votes, Merrow said.
Incumbent Selectman Trudy Akers decided not to seek reelection, prompting the two-way race.
Mark Shraiberg won the SAD 44 director’s seat for three years, with 174 votes, while opponent Walter Smith received 113 votes.
Incumbent Fire Chief Rob Dixon gets to keep the three-year job, garnering 180 votes to opponent Sylvanus “Butch” Glover’s 125 votes.
Incumbent Town Clerk/Tax Collector Melinda Averill was re-elected to both positions. Merrow said she received 250 votes for town clerk while opponent Elaine Morton got 24 votes, and 255 for tax collector while Morton received 21 votes.
Incumbent Road Commissioner Marshall Meisner won reelection, getting 243 votes. Opponents Dave Dolloff and Mark Farrington received 18 and five votes, respectively.
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