Haverhill Annual Town Meeting Was Lightly Attended (150+/-) And Enjoyed Smooth Sailing
Bernie Marvin
March 26, 2026
POPULAR SELECTMAN JOE LONGACRE DECIDED THREE YEARS WAS ENOUGH. VOTERS WERE SAD ABOUT THAT.
For a few of the recent Haverhill Annual Town Meetings held not that long ago, the Haverhill Cooperative Middle School gymnasium was packed with Haverhill voters anxious to get the meetings underway.
They knew some of the articles on the warrant would be discussed long and hard, and that when debate was completed, those articles would then have to go to paper balloting for the final decision. Some of the meetings included several paper-ballot routines.
Some of those petitioned warrant articles sparked hard feelings among town officials and the voting public. Certainly, one indicator was evident in those earlier meetings: the high number of voters present and ready to vote. They were there to air their approval or disapproval directly through their up or down voting.
The recent Haverhill Town Meeting held Saturday, March 14, 2026, went smoothly and was over in a minimum of time. If you look at the total voter list of around 2950 registered voters, few attended the town meeting. There were no long check-in lines, no waiting times for several paper balloting sessions, and every warrant article was passed in the affirmative. There was no rancor.
As some observers said after the meeting closed, it was the way Haverhill used to conduct its meetings. It was good to have the quarreling, rantings of a malevolent meeting gone. The old Haverhill meeting style was back, and town officials and voters liked it that way.
The 32-article warrant was disposed of in near-record time by retiring Moderator Peter Tice, who oversaw the meeting's business. The remarks from voters indicated they were happy that good feelings seemed to have returned once again. Moderator Tice, who will be replaced at the microphone by newly elected Moderator Bob St. Pierre, also received a rousing standing applause for the job he has done running past town and school meetings.
During the nearly two-year vacancies in the former Town Manager position and the permanent Town Administrator position in Haverhill, the Select Board, after long searches, hired a new Town Administrator, Tom Galinat. He said he was pleased with the town meeting. Tom said there is a lot of hope and vision in Haverhill. They noted that there was not even one question about the $5.6 million budget, and he did not hear any pointed or ugly comments directed at any voter or board member during the recent town meeting. He felt that the crowd had come together, and it was a good feeling for both town officials and voters.
Haverhill Select Board member Ron Hurlburt was returned to office for a three-year term. Ron said he was very pleased with the results of the meeting. He noted that Woodsville received funding they needed for the wastewater treatment facility scoping study ($10,000), the Woodsville paving and reconstruction program ($150,172) Woodsville General Highway operations ($351,180) and Woodsville Fire Department operations ($133,848).
Ron Hurlburt continued to describe the meeting. He reported that Ivy Billard is Acting Town Clerk until a new Town Clerk is appointed later this month. She formerly worked as Deputy Town Clerk and had resigned under the former Town Clerk.
She and Dawn Burleson, along with Tom Galinat, have been instrumental in getting ballots, voting, and Town Meeting in order. With the abrupt resignation, giving no notice at the worst possible time, leading up to both events, everyone came together to make it work, and it did.
All proposed articles passed. Town Administrator Tom Galinat has received praise and positive feedback on all his work to date.
Tom continued: "I am, of course, honored to serve again and will continue working hard to keep the budget and taxes down, where possible. I will also continue, as we have, with open dialogue, truth, and transparency, which this Select Board has come to be known for. I will also continue attending and will be part of the economic summits and try to balance growth/development in town with agriculture and conservation," he said.
Ron Hurlburt offered that former Select Board member Joe Longacre will be sincerely missed on the Select Board, but I know I can call on him at any time. He has become a sincere, close friend and my voice of reason. This Select Board has made great strides for the Town, and I am sure it will continue to do so. I think of them all as family."
In closing, select board member Hurlburt said that Peter Tice did a fabulous job as moderator, as always. He said that Woodsville Fire District Administrator Kevin Shelton did well, and that there seemed to be a great deal of unity, mutual respect, and cooperation between Woodsville and Haverhill.
So, with those kinds of comments among officials and voters, the Haverhill Annual Town Meeting went off without a hitch, and everyone is looking forward to the year ahead.
For a few of the recent Haverhill Annual Town Meetings held not that long ago, the Haverhill Cooperative Middle School gymnasium was packed with Haverhill voters anxious to get the meetings underway.
They knew some of the articles on the warrant would be discussed long and hard, and that when debate was completed, those articles would then have to go to paper balloting for the final decision. Some of the meetings included several paper-ballot routines.
Some of those petitioned warrant articles sparked hard feelings among town officials and the voting public. Certainly, one indicator was evident in those earlier meetings: the high number of voters present and ready to vote. They were there to air their approval or disapproval directly through their up or down voting.
The recent Haverhill Town Meeting held Saturday, March 14, 2026, went smoothly and was over in a minimum of time. If you look at the total voter list of around 2950 registered voters, few attended the town meeting. There were no long check-in lines, no waiting times for several paper balloting sessions, and every warrant article was passed in the affirmative. There was no rancor.
As some observers said after the meeting closed, it was the way Haverhill used to conduct its meetings. It was good to have the quarreling, rantings of a malevolent meeting gone. The old Haverhill meeting style was back, and town officials and voters liked it that way.
The 32-article warrant was disposed of in near-record time by retiring Moderator Peter Tice, who oversaw the meeting's business. The remarks from voters indicated they were happy that good feelings seemed to have returned once again. Moderator Tice, who will be replaced at the microphone by newly elected Moderator Bob St. Pierre, also received a rousing standing applause for the job he has done running past town and school meetings.
During the nearly two-year vacancies in the former Town Manager position and the permanent Town Administrator position in Haverhill, the Select Board, after long searches, hired a new Town Administrator, Tom Galinat. He said he was pleased with the town meeting. Tom said there is a lot of hope and vision in Haverhill. They noted that there was not even one question about the $5.6 million budget, and he did not hear any pointed or ugly comments directed at any voter or board member during the recent town meeting. He felt that the crowd had come together, and it was a good feeling for both town officials and voters.
Haverhill Select Board member Ron Hurlburt was returned to office for a three-year term. Ron said he was very pleased with the results of the meeting. He noted that Woodsville received funding they needed for the wastewater treatment facility scoping study ($10,000), the Woodsville paving and reconstruction program ($150,172) Woodsville General Highway operations ($351,180) and Woodsville Fire Department operations ($133,848).
Ron Hurlburt continued to describe the meeting. He reported that Ivy Billard is Acting Town Clerk until a new Town Clerk is appointed later this month. She formerly worked as Deputy Town Clerk and had resigned under the former Town Clerk.
She and Dawn Burleson, along with Tom Galinat, have been instrumental in getting ballots, voting, and Town Meeting in order. With the abrupt resignation, giving no notice at the worst possible time, leading up to both events, everyone came together to make it work, and it did.
All proposed articles passed. Town Administrator Tom Galinat has received praise and positive feedback on all his work to date.
Tom continued: "I am, of course, honored to serve again and will continue working hard to keep the budget and taxes down, where possible. I will also continue, as we have, with open dialogue, truth, and transparency, which this Select Board has come to be known for. I will also continue attending and will be part of the economic summits and try to balance growth/development in town with agriculture and conservation," he said.
Ron Hurlburt offered that former Select Board member Joe Longacre will be sincerely missed on the Select Board, but I know I can call on him at any time. He has become a sincere, close friend and my voice of reason. This Select Board has made great strides for the Town, and I am sure it will continue to do so. I think of them all as family."
In closing, select board member Hurlburt said that Peter Tice did a fabulous job as moderator, as always. He said that Woodsville Fire District Administrator Kevin Shelton did well, and that there seemed to be a great deal of unity, mutual respect, and cooperation between Woodsville and Haverhill.
So, with those kinds of comments among officials and voters, the Haverhill Annual Town Meeting went off without a hitch, and everyone is looking forward to the year ahead.
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