Plaistow reviews election and warrant-article results; recount set after narrow labor vote

At the March meeting the Plaistow Board of Selectmen reviewed results from the recent town election and town meeting warrant articles and discussed next steps following several close votes.

Chair Bill Coy summarized the outcomes: the town operating budget passed, as did the water department operating budget. The collective‑bargaining agreement for the town union failed by three votes; a recount was requested and scheduled to take place in the Great Hall on Sunday at 2:00 p.m., the chair said. “That recount will be there,” the chair told the board; staff will post notice and coordinate volunteers for the hand count process.

Other warrant‑article results included a mix of approvals and defeats: the contingency fund deposit passed; a deposit to the highway equipment expendable trust failed; a deposit to the building capital reserve failed (the board discussed a cost estimate of $60,000–$70,000 to rebuild the front ramp and observed roughly $47,000 in the reserve); deposits to certain fire‑department capital reserve funds passed while others failed; and a proposal to fund more police vehicles was defeated even though the existing vehicle fund balance was discussed as substantial. Multiple votes were close and the board noted several will be reviewed during the recount process.

Board members also noted strong turnout and praised election workers and the new voting and scanning machines for speeding processing and handling write‑ins. The board discussed logistics for the recount: separating ballots, forming counting teams, and posting results. Selectmen encouraged volunteers for the recount and said moderator Bob would organize the process.

Next steps: the recount will take place as scheduled; staff will post the required notices and the board will consider any follow‑up action depending on recount results.