Nicklos keeps seat with coin toss

By KATY SAVAGE
Special to the Eagle Times
NEW LONDON/ SUNAPEE — New London Town Clerk Linda Nicklos won a coin toss to save her position on Tuesday night.

Nicklos was almost ousted for a three-year term on Town Meeting Day by William Kidder III in a tied 270-270 vote.

Nicklos, who has been town clerk more than 2 years, was still town clerk and tax collector on Wednesday morning because they had flipped a coin, Nicklos said.

The final results were unclear. Nicklos said her challenger had requested a recount.

Attempts to reach Kidder were unsuccessful.

Nicklos said she was surprised the vote ended in a tie.

“I totally enjoy the people and the diversity of the job,” said Nicklos of her desire to continue.

Nicklos and Kidder received more votes than a third challenger, Barbara Vaughn, with 70 votes.

Mark Christensen, Robert Prohl and Lauren Chadwick were elected to the Budget Committee for three year terms, winning seats over Tyler Beck, Kim ILg and Tacee Walker.

Voters also approved all articles, which all involved zoning amendments proposed by the Planning Board.

Voters would decide the budget and other matters at a Town Meeting on Wednesday night.

In Sunapee, voters approved both town and school budgets on Tuesday.

Josh Trow, 28, who was chair of the selectboard prior to the vote, was re-elected with 500 votes. Trow is going into his seventh year as a selectboard member, he said.

Incumbent John Augustine who had been a board member for the previous three years, was also re-elected for another three-year term with 325 votes. Augustine and Trow outpaced Aaron Warkentien who had 314 write-in votes.

Jim Borelli was elected for a one-year school board term with 304 votes over Michael Sisemore with 167 votes.

Sunapee voters narrowly turned down a new $125,000 forestry truck for the fire station in a 340-337 vote.

Town Manager Donna Nashawaty anticipated the fire department would request a recount. Doing so would require a petition from 10 registered voters.

Voters also turned down the purchase of new voting booths to replace booths that officials say are so old they shake when people write on them. Voters turned down the purchase of a new highway truck – a $55,000 expense that would have come from an existing capital reserve fund.

All other articles were approved by voters, including the creation of a new commercial zoning district on Route 11.