One option for expanding the existing Plaistow police station.
On reflection, Plaistow town officials are tentatively saying voters approved yesterday’s ballot question, authorizing construction of a new $8.5 million police station and upgraded public safety complex.
At issue were 55 ballots out of more than 1,200 cast where residents neither voted yes nor no on the question, Town Clerk Maryellen Pelletier told WHAV this morning. Because of the late hour after counting was completed, town officials were unable to obtain a definitive ruling Tuesday night.
“We are researching it. We were we are waiting for final word from legal counsel but it appears to have passed,” Pelletier said. She explained the project required approval of 60 percent of the voters. Not counting the 55 ballots where no choice was made, voters were 68.5 percent in favor. An initial review counted the 55 ballots in determining the percentage of votes cast, but that was probably incorrect according to the New Hampshire Secretary of State. The office referred town leaders to state statutes governing town meeting ballots.
Outside legal counsel, attorney Sumner F. Kalman of Plaistow, N.H., is expected to formally rule later today.
Plans call for building a new, nearly 14,000 square foot Plaistow police station adjacent to a renovated Plaistow fire station on Elm Street.
Meanwhile in nearby Sandown, town voters rejected, by a nearly four-to-one margin, a ballot item by citizen petition which proposed the town withdraw from the Timberlane Regional School District and establish a separate school district for its students by July, 2018. The unofficial count was 1,311 votes against the move, 334 votes in support.
Thank you for the update. WHAV is on the process of revising the story.
Just a loyal reader that’s happy to help.
The Public Safety Complex issue is not over yet. There were 60 ballots that left the line unmarked and those would not be counted – which would make the percentage of “yes” votes high enough to pass the warrant. The issue has been sent to the Secretary of State for clarification, and the official result should come later today.
This warrant has passed – the town initially came up with the percentage by counting ALL ballots cast, and should have counted just the ballots that voted on the warrant. The SOS ruled this morning and the project has now received a 60.85% majority, just over the 3/5 threshold needed to pass. It’s already been posted on the Union Leader website if anyone needs further clarification.