Town Clerk Patricia C. Donovan reported possibly the lowest voter turnout in town history at 9 percent, as just 690 voters out of 7,939 total voters came out to cast ballots.
PALMER - District 1 Town Councilor Philip J. Hebert coasted into another three-year term, beating Carl F. Bryant in Tuesday's annual election, 152-63.
Voters also favored selectmen and town meetings over the current Town Council-manager government in non-binding questions.
Town Clerk Patricia C. Donovan reported possibly the lowest voter turnout in town history at 9 percent, as just 690 voters out of 7,939 total voters came out to cast ballots.
This was the first time an election has been held in June, a result of a charter change approved in November that moved the election date and reduced the Town Council to seven members from nine.
Hebert, who also won a 2007 race against Bryant, said he was pleased with the results, and thanked those who supported him. He said he got a new truck driving job earlier that day.
"It's been a good day for me all around," Hebert said.
Bryant said he was disappointed with the results, and wished he could have had a debate with Hebert, to prove that he was the better candidate. Bryant congratulated Hebert on the win.
On the non-binding questions, 251 favored a town manager-council form of government, while 365 were against it and 74 people left it blank; a total of 410 favored selectmen and town meetings, while 222 voted against them and 158 left the question blank.
David L. Hale, who has been vocal in his opposition to the town manager and Town Council government, said "wow" when told of the results and called them "terrific."
"This is an amazing victory for the people of Palmer," Hale said. "This is a vindication of our beliefs."
Hale wasn't sure what step he will take next. He, along with Iris and Daniel Cardin, were instrumental in getting the charter reviewed through a 2008 vote.
Hale said he wanted a poll done all along, to see what type of government people preferred, but he said his requests were not heeded by the Charter Commission. This time, he petitioned the Town Council to get the non-binding questions on the ballot.
At-large Councilor Paul E. Burns received the most votes for at-large councilor with 371, followed by Mary A. Salzmann with 363, and incumbent Karl S. Williams with 330. Because Burns received the most votes, he will serve three years. Salzmann will follow with a two-year term, and Williams will serve one year.
Burns said he wasn't sure how to interpret the non-binding questions as the turnout was so low.
Burns, who served on the Charter Commission, said it will take time for people to get used to the June election.
"Whenever you have a change, people have to get used to the change," Burns said.
Donovan was reading the charter to determine how to handle a tie for second place between Chairman Michael S. Marciniec and Kathleen Burns for Planning Board, who each got 405 votes.
The top vote-getter was incumbent Thomas Skowyra with 432 votes, who will serve three years; Andrew Golas was third with 399, followed by incumbent Norman Czech with 369. Golas and Burns are new to the five-member board, as James Haley and Diane France did not seek reelection.
There were no races for Planning Board or School Committee; the only thing at stake was term lengths. The top two vote-getters will serve three years, with the second and third place vote-getters serving two years, and the candidate with the least amount of votes serving one year.
For School Committee, David M. Lynch and Robert S. Janasiewicz will serve three years, as they received 471 and 402 votes, respectively. Serving two years will be Maureen R. Gallagher (395 votes) and James L. St. Amand (373), and Gary Blanchette (365) will serve one year. All are incumbents.
Incumbent Barbara A. Barry was reelected to district 2 town councilor, Blake E. Lamothe was elected to district 3, and Donald J. Blais Jr. was elected to district 4. Barry and Lamothe will serve one year; Blais, two. All ran unopposed.