Town Election Roundup.

COLUMN: Town Election Roundup

Northbridge

Voters OK Town Hall project, roads; reject turf

NORTHBRIDGE - Voters at yesterday's annual town election passed questions that will pay for fixing town roads over the next five years and another question that will pay for fixing Town Hall, but they soundly defeated a question that asked for $900,000 to put artificial turf on Lasell Field.

Voters also re-elected Selectman James Marzec, who defeated former board member Joseph J Montecalvo, 933-751.

By a vote of 1,003 to 670, voters approved a one-year capital expenditure question that sought $635,000 to make repairs to the approximately 140-year-old Town Hall. A one-year capital expenditure question that asked for $625,000 as the town's share of a five-year $2.85 million plan to fix sections of many of the town's roads passed 1,360 to 331. The Lasell Field one-year capital expenditure question, however, went down by 1,084 to 632.

Three questions asking voters to approve several changes in the charter, including one that would decrease the size of the School Committee from nine to five members, passed overwhelmingly.

The Friends of Lasell Field had won the support of most town officials going into yesterday's election but voters determined that fixing the town's crumbling roads and Town Hall were the top priorities.

"I can't say I'm surprised by the result," said Friends of Lasell Field Inc. member Rob Knapik

"I think the votes on the three questions showed that people will support things that affect them directly but not things that will affect them indirectly like a better school system."

Both Mr. Knapik and Board of Selectmen Chairman Thomas J. Melia, who was a strong supporter of placing artificial turf on the football field at Lasell Field, said it appears the issue won't come up again.

Mr. Knapik said he understood why people voted against the artificial turf and he respected their reasoning

"I was hoping they all would pass," said Mr. Melia. "The people have spoken and we'll move on."

Mr. Marzec gave a fist pump when the results from the last of the town's four precincts were announced and he knew he had won his re-election bid.

Mr. Marzec, who was also a vocal supporter of the three funding articles, said he was grateful for the support of town residents in his re-election bid. He also congratulated Mr. Montecalvo on his effort during the campaign.

"He has had a good run and I wish him well in the future," said Mr. Marzec.

A total of 1,752 of...