HADLEY — Voters are advising the Select Board to move future town elections to a date following annual Town Meeting, while a write-in candidate for the Board of Health turned back a challenge from another write-in candidate at the town election on April 13.
By a 339-112 tally, voters approved a nonbinding question to move the town election from the second Tuesday in April to the third Thursday in May, so it follows Town Meeting. Those who have supported the idea say it could save the town money so that special elections don’t need to be called when Proposition 2½ debt exclusions are approved at Town Meeting.
In the only contested race, Margaret Mastrangelo of East Commons Drive, who has worked in health care for almost 30 years, received 321 votes, easily beating John Mieczkowski Jr. of Bay Road, who got 73 votes in a last-minute write-in campaign. Mastrangelo will replace Emma Dragon, who opted against running again, on the Board of Health.
In addition to Mastrangelo, other newcomers elected include Amy Parsons for a three-year seat on the Select Board and Jessica Kem for a three-year term as library trustee.
Incumbents winning reelection are Joyce Chunglo for a three-year seat on the Select Board, Michael P. Sarsynski Jr. for a five-year term on the Planning Board, Humera M. Fasihuddin and Paul Phifer for three-year seats on the School Committee, Randall E. Izer for a one-year term as moderator, Alison Donta-Venman for a three-year seat as library trustee, Jeffrey Mish for a three-year term on the Board of Assessors, Sheila Konieczny for a one-year term as Elector under the Oliver Smith Will, and Steven N. Higgins for a three-year seat on the Park Commission.
