Not so fast, says Andrew Harhay; the final vote count shows a TIE!
Tonight, June 14th, at 18:30 hours, the Board of Selectmen conducted an emergency meeting. The reason, we failed to elect a new member for the Board of Selectmen.Attending the emergency meeting was Larry Mandel, chairman of the Board of Selectmen (“BOS”), Andrew Harhay, incumbent member of the BOS, Bettina Schmidt, who was announced as the winner of the election for the seat on the BOS last night by two votes, and Sharon Ashleigh, the town clerk.
During the emergency meeting, Sharon Ashleigh explained how it came to be that there is now a tie where there was a winner last might. Sharon explained that five individuals voted on a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are created by individuals who's name does not appear on the cross-off list (list of all the registered voters) but which insist that they are registered voters. Such provisional ballots are not run thorough the voting machine as their claim to be registered voter first needs to be verified by the town clerk. Hence, these votes were not included in the count published last night.
Sharon, “Paula wanted to set up tables and I needed to get out of there (the Community Center) last night,” and, “at eight o´clock I had other things on my mind and forgot about the provisional votes..”
Early today, Sharon checked the five individuals voting status and determined that one was not a registered voter, two had registered too late, and the last two were registered voters but had moved within the town. This the reason why the two names were missing on the list of registered voters. She apologized for this oversight to the two candidates.
The question was then what to do about the tie. There are not many options:
- Either candidate or both could ask for a recount;
- either one could withdraw their candidacy; or
- the town will have to organize another caucus followed by a special election.
Peter Frei.
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2016 Annual Town Election Results, Congratulations Mrs. Bettina Schmidt!
A total of 311 voters made the annual trip to the Holland Community Center to exercise their constitutional right to participate in forming the government of their community. (Last year the count was 465.)The annual town election took place at the Community Center for the second time, read more»
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2016 Annual Town Election Results
I was going to publish the results here as usual...Sharon Ashley, our town clerk, refused to give me a print-out and added, The results will be published on the town's website.
How about those people who do not have a computer? It seems to me that they don't want you, the reader of the Holland Blog to have it first. I tried, sorry! Ask your self the question, how much of an effort would it be to tape a print-out of the results at the door to the town hall as they always did?
So much I heard from an informed source, Bill Hardy will keep the job he had for years, moderator (thank god! Steven Anderstrom did not get his way.) Harhey did not make it either (he lost by two votes!) Bettina Schmidt is our new member of the Board of Selectmen, congratulations! Scotty defeated Richard Polverari.
Peter Frei
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Say Yes to Public Health Protection and NO to RECALL.
At the time I prepared my campaign signs in June of 2014, I had no idea that serving the community with integrity would lead to me being recalled based on lies by a small group of corrupt disgruntled town officials, read more»
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Speak out Holland! (no.34)
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Comment about anything that is amusing you or about anything that is bothering you, but do it in a civilized manner! I will delete obvious lies and offensive comments. To read previous comments under this category, click on “Speak Out Holland” on the left of this blog under the heading “Categories.”
Peter Frei
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LAKE NEWS Important
1. Pancake Breakfast - Sunday June 14 - this Sunday from 8 am 11 am at Holland Community Center, come and support the Lake Preservation Fund and socialize with your friends around Town. Tell your neighbors, bring your family and friends. Call Janice Brigham for advance tickets ... 413 626 52162. MILFOIL TREATMENT on MA part of lake ... Wed June 17th ... PLEASE stay off the lake on the day and night of the treatment, by doing this the treatment will be more effective. This year we will be treating the little pond on South Basin off Forest Dr./Mashpaug. Thank you for extra donations that will fund this extra treatment. Notices will be posted around town. DO NOT USE THE WATER FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES until date noted:
Drinking & Cooking 6/21, boating. fishing & swimming 6/18, watering of livestock 6/18 and irrigation 6/23/15
Connecticut will be treated at a future date and will let you know in advance. Thanks for your cooperation ... please stay off the lake for the day/night of treatment.
3. Save the Date: July 13 for the Public House Buffet .. Call Bev 413 221 3156 for tickets ... this is a great fund raiser for Lake Preservation and the food is great too.
Thanks,
Christine McCooe, (cell 508 361 3216)
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2015 Annual Town Election Results, Congratulations Mr. Gillen!
A total of 465 voters made the annual trip to the Holland Community Center to exercise their constitutional right to participate in forming the government of their community. (Last year the count was 437.)The annual town election took place at the Community Center for the first time, read more»
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Town elections this comming Monday, June 8
Please make the time to vote, for the first time the elections will take place at the Community Center by the cemetery.It is important that those who don't really care get out there because the selfserving individuals who profit from corruption for sure will make the effort.
A special message to Kristin LaPlante; your notion that informatative election fliers based on facts are hate mail is missconceived and shows an utter disrespect of the democratic process on your part. This is the reason why you and those close to you are a danger in any position you are holding in our community.
We go back a long time; not many remember town clerk Robert Ford which you replaced in 2004. I remember Kristin Grant, your maiden name, as an innocent single women with a strong need to belong. You do belong now and there is not much we still have in common.
As always, I make up my own mind about a newcomer. Sharon Ashleigh was a newcomer. However, lately I was forced to realize that she already belongs too... she belongs to the point where she is unable to do her job. If the town clerk refuses to comply with Public Information Requests and witholds the information for more than 40 days when the law mandates her to comply with such a request within 10 days, she becomes a danger to our community as well. The information I requested will be useless by then.. The right to file Public Information Requests is one of the strong pillars a free society is based on. Public Information Requests are enabeling and ensuring public involvement and participation by providing a mechanism for holding governmental actors accountable for their decisions and actions.
Kristin, you obviously are a strong leader and mentor and had a chance to intorduce Sharon into the many responsibilities a town clerk has. Unfortunatelly that strong lead was pointing in the wrong direction!
Experience in the hands of a person with a strong moral compass is a good thing; in the wrong hands, it will spell disaster (unnecessary costly lawsuits.) Sharon Ashleigh seems to have that experience already (pushing the limits to see with what she can get away with, and in this town it seems to be endless), at least that is what she is claiming on her campaign signs.
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Please attend the Annual Town Meeting next Tuesday, May 26, at 7:00 pm at the Holland Elementary School
It is a good idea to read the warrant before hand. For your convenience, I have it posted here. To read the warrant, click here!2 Comments - Edit - Delete
ALL RESIDENTS, Lets be part of this Community
First time ever, there will be a Holland Town Forum - Saturday May 2nd, 2015.- Complimentary Coffee and Donuts 9 am to 12 pm, at the Holland Elementary School Gymnasium. Sponsored by Government Study Committee. ALL RESIDENTS - OUR TOWN NEEDS US! Opening the lines of communication with our Town Hall regarding;- Town Hall Culture
- Town Governance
- Town Services
- Town Vision
May 26, 2015, annual Town Meeting at the Holland Elementary School at 7:00 pm.
June 8, 2015, annual Town Elections at the Community Center from 10:00 am till 8:00 pm.
Kimberly Hermanson
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Consider the Source!
It seems to be unclear whom to believe, Dana Manning or Brian Johnson, read more»Leave a comment - Edit - Delete