ROYALSTON – Approximately 10 percent of Royalston’s 920 registered voters (61 from precinct one/33 precinct two) turned out for the annual town elections on Monday. Except for the high number of write-ins — nearly 50 — there were no surprises after results were tallied in the Town Hall and Whitney Hall.
Roland G. Hamel was re-elected for three more years on the Select Board, with a total of 73 votes (50 votes in precinct one/23 votes in precinct two). Barbara Richardson will once again serve as Town Clerk. The former Town Clerk, Richardson received 89 votes (60/29), and will take the reins from the current Town Clerk Melanie Mangum, who is moving to Memphis Tennessee to embark on a career in music.
Incumbent Wade Harmon keeps his position as Assessor for three more years with 77 votes (53/24), as does Board of Health member Andrea Crete, who remains for another three years, with 75 votes (52/23). Other incumbents keeping their seats are Cemetery Commissioner Sherry Miner, for a three-year term with 85 votes (56/29); Phinehas S. Newton Library Trustee Jeffrey Mangum will continue for another three years, with 80 votes (55/25).
Seventy Royalston voters (46/24) supported Charles Pretti continuing another three years as representative to the ARRSD School Committee; Roberta “Bobbi” Newman received 10 write-in votes. Royalston voters also voted to return Athol incumbents Kenneth Vaidulas with 60 votes (41/19); William Chiasson with 62 votes (39/23), and Tammy Duquette with 54 votes (35/19). Athol voters supported Pretti’s re-election with 112 votes; Newman received 43 write-in votes. There were two other unnamed write-in votes from Athol.
Other incumbents returning are John N. Bartlett Fund Trustees Roy Smith, with 74 votes (49/25) and Gary Winitzer with 56 votes (36/20). Curtis A. Deveneau was voted in to the first of two vacant seats with 5 write-in votes; John Coflesky and Nancy Melbourne tied for the other vacant Bartlett Fund seat, each with three write-in votes.
New to positions in the Town of Royalston are Sherry A. Miner, who was elected with 81 votes (54/27) as a Constable. Former Constable John M. Divoll did not run for re-election. Amy Sanden was voted to a two-year seat on the Planning Board with 75 votes (50/25). Josh Doub received six write-in votes to fill a five-year seat on the Planning Board, beating out Curtis Deveneau (four votes), and Joshua Morris-Siegel (three votes).
There were no candidates for the three-year seat on the Sewer Commission. Ray Brown and Tony Basso tied for the position, each receiving two write-in votes.
The Select Board will appoint individuals for seats not filled during the election. Residents interested in serving in any of the vacant positions should contact the Select Board Chair, Chris Long.
Precinct one workers at the Royalston Town Hall included Warden Brenda L. Putney, Clerk Theresa Quinn, Police Officers John Coflesky and Josh Lamarche, and workers Mary C. Barclay, Mariah Mallett, and Gertrude Corser. Precinct two workers were Warden Maureen Blasco, Clerk Kate Siegel, Police Officers Paul Pothier and Andrew Newton.