FARMINGDALE — Tyler Tripp was elected to a three-year term on the Select Board by a three-vote margin on Wednesday, prompting his opponent, incumbent chairperson Nancy Frost, to ask for a recount.

Meanwhile, Doug Ebert beat Jim Grant for a two-year term on the Select Board.

Tripp received 338 votes to Frost’s 335, according to preliminary results.

Around midnight Tuesday, Town Clerk Rose Webster said Frost verbally requested a recount. Webster said Frost has five days to present her with a written request for a recount within five days. She said it would likely take place early next week and town office staff will conduct the recount.

“I want this to be very open and public,” she said, adding that she wants the recount to be advertised and that it would be open to the public.

Tripp said he didn’t blame Frost for asking for a recount based on the razor-thin margin of his victory.

Tripp said he was excited to work with Ebert and incumbent Selectman Wayne Kilgore.

“I think we can make progress and do some good things for the town,” he said.

Ebert received 346 votes to Jim Grant’s 295. Ebert said Wednesday he was looking forward to “working with taxpayers and contractors.”

“I think it’s great,” he said about his election. “I’m glad the townspeople came out and showed some support.”

Grant said Wednesday that he was fine with the result of the election, given that he was unable to campaign because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“This is what the residents want,” Grant said. “That’s the way politics works.”

Steve Stratton was reelected as Road Commissioner and John Lambert was reelected to the Regional School Unit 2 Board of Directors, both in unopposed races.

The open Town Meeting, where voters will decide on as much as $1,523,590 in municipal spending, is at 6 p.m. Thursday at Hall-Dale High School.

 

BELGRADE

In Belgrade a two-way race for a seat on the Selectboard was decided by only six votes, prompting a request for a recount, which confirmed the result.

Dan Newman, a former selectperson, received 400 votes, just edging out incumbent Michael Barrett, chairman of the Selectboard, who received 394 votes.

Barrett said Wednesday he requested a recount, simply due to the result being so close, especially with so many ballots cast.

“It was such a close vote, and mistakes happen,” Barrett said Wednesday afternoon after deciding to request a recount. “I just want to be sure.”

Town Manager Anthony Wilson said later Wednesday town workers had already completed the recount, and had confirmed the same results, 400 votes for Newman to Barrett’s 394.

Voters, who due to the coronavirus pandemic and concerns about a large group gathering, decided all items on the annual Town Meeting warrant by secret ballot for the first time, instead of the usual traditional open-floor meeting format.

Wilson said more than 900 residents voted, which he was told is a record for an annual Town Meeting vote in Belgrade.

Before the end of the election the town ran out of ballots and had to make photocopies.

Voters passed every article on the warrant other than one, a $5,000 item to help fund the annual Fourth of July fireworks display. That display didn’t take place this year anyway, also due to concerns about the ongoing pandemic.

The proposed $3.1 million town budget was up about $13,000 from the current year, but Wilson said to help avoid a property tax increase officials agreed to fund about $300,000 in expenses from a combination of undesignated and reserve funds. Wilson said the Selectboard is scheduled to meet Tuesday, July 21, to set the tax commitment and one option before them would keep the property tax rate the same it is now, at $15.38 for every $1,000 of property value.

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