PHILLIPSTON — Voters went to the polls Monday and voted overwhelmingly to give John Telepciak a fourth three-year term on the town’s Select Board. The incumbent out-polled challenger Richard Wilkins 162-62, with nine blank ballots cast.
Daniel Sandin was victorious in a write-in campaign for a five-year seat on the Planning Board. Sandin received 45 votes, Michael Ellis 12, incumbent Wayne Richard 8, and Jeffery Marques 5. There were 163 blanks counted.
Incumbents who ran unopposed included: Ronald Haughton, Board of Assessors; Garrett Foley, Board of Health and Cemetery Commission; Richard Valcourt, Constable, and; Daniel Sandin, Library Board of Trustees. All terms are for three years.
Jeffrey Marques of Phillipston and Lori Mattson of Templeton were both returned to the Narragansett Regional School Committee, each to a three-year term. Richard Degan did receive three write-in votes in Phillipston.
James Praplaski was elected to a one-year term on the Board of Health.
Voters also narrowly approved a Proposition 2 ½ override to provide additional funding to the Narragansett Regional School District. The margin was 125-105 in favor, with 3 blanks. However, Templeton voters turned down their portion of the override, so the measure failed.
“I’ve been on the board for nine years – three terms,” said Telepciak, “and I really didn’t plan on running again. I thought three terms was plenty. I thought I’d make room for someone else, for some new ideas.”
“But then I thought we have a new selectwoman,” he explained, “and a selectman who’s pretty busy who has a year left on his current term. I decided we’ve got too many issues to deal with in town and finally decided I just couldn’t walk away. It didn’t feel right leaving the town at this time.”
Prior to serving on the Select Board, Telepciak was a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals “for many years” and also served on the Energy Committee.
A native of Westfield, Telepciak said, “When I was younger I told myself I’d never live this side of the Connecticut River. But my wife was from Athol and we had spent some time at her parents’ place in Phillipston, so here were are.”
Telepciak has lived in Phillipston since 1978. “So I’m a newcomer,” he joked.