DANVILLE — The appointment of a new town moderator was accompanied by an hourlong debate Monday night over the circumstances surrounding his predecessor’s abrupt resignation last week.
Longtime resident Charles Underhill was appointed interim town moderator to oversee the upcoming presidential primary. A permanent moderator will be elected at town meeting in March.
“You’re stepping into a fire right now and there are only certain people with a certain character that would do something like that and I appreciate it,” said Chairman Shawn O’Neil.
Former Town Moderator John Chandler resigned on Thursday, the second moderator in less than two years to step down, over allegations of mistreatment by the Board of Selectmen, whom he said are fostering division in the town.
Chandler’s resignation came two weeks after O’Neil introduced a warrant article asking residents on the March town meeting ballot to vote for a hand-count of ballots in the November presidential election.
This is the second time a hand count has been proposed in disregard of state law, said Selectman Sheila Johannesen.
According to RSA 666:5-a, a hand-count can be done when a recount is requested, and RSA 656:42 provides for a hand-count when a ballot contains more than the allowable number of votes.
Additionally, towns that adopt RSA 656:40 may use paper ballots for special elections for state representatives. Otherwise, they are required to use electronic ballot-counting devices.
In 2010, the town was reprimanded by the Secretary of State for hand-counting the closest races in any given election, a decision made by former moderator Barry Hantman, said Town Clerk Chris Tracy. The town was told to discontinue the practice.
“They told us back then, with a slap on the wrist, we can’t do that anymore,” Tracy said Monday night. “You know it’s illegal, Shawn. We got reprimanded because we were doing a verification count and a machine count.
“Whether people agree with Shawn or not, this is not legal, and the board is trying to put forth something that is not legal.”
During Monday’s meeting, O’Neil said, “I’m asking to hand-count one race.”
“If evil people can program machines, you’re going to get evil results,” O’Neil said.
“Yet you’re willing to break the law to do it,” someone commented from the audience.
“People break laws all the time ...,” O’Neil said. “I want the townspeople to think about it and with their own conscience, take a vote on it.”
Asked whether he believes the machines have been tampered with, O’Neil said no.
“I take pride that we have the utmost respect for the process and go above and beyond to make sure we have a fair election and keep the integrity of the election intact,” Tracy said. “The town moderator and I have no doubt the totals are correct and we do so with pride. I wish the townspeople would have a little more faith in election officials and the election process.”
Following Chandler’s resignation, residents took to social media to express their outrage at O’Neil and Selectman Dennis Griffiths, saying the two have taken the town in a negative direction.
In response to social media comments he made calling Chandler “a soft, weak, utterly dishonest shell of a man,” Griffiths said:
“If this article isn’t legal, shouldn’t John have known that? And if so, what’s the big deal?” Griffiths said. “Instead, he resigned three weeks before the primary. I find it very weak-minded and it’s an insult to the board and this town.
“Two months to go in this term and he resigns? Give me a break ... Stand up and just do the job. That’s all he had to do.”
