Boudreau takes highway job

Planning board keeps incumbent

By Jonathan Cook

Turley Publications Reporter

WARREN – Tom Boudreau campaigned for the Highway Surveyor job with public appearances and signs out all over town. He emphasized that being a newcomer is an advantage.

Tuesday, voters agreed, sending Boudreau to victory with 422 votes against incumbent Gary Odiorne’s 175 votes.

Odirone’s last three years as top highway employee were marred by controversy over backhoe equipment that was given or sold in violation of town bylaw. Odiorne admitted to given his foreman Raymond Blais permission to get rid of a pair of buckets and a twister arm.

Odiorne said that was the only mark on his record, but his foreman was later sued, along with the town for gender harassment. Odiorne was implicated in the complaint filed by highway employee Patricia LeBoeuf.

Boudreau began work Wednesday morning.

Planning Board keeps Libby

Incumbent Susan Libby was re-elected over perennial candidate Richard Czaporowski 454 to 308 for a five-year term.

Czaporowski also serves the town on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Libby said her knowledge of construction and experience on the board gave her an advantage in dealing with development proposals in an equitable way. She emphasized balancing the town’s interests with the rights of developers and voters seemed to agree.

According to Town Clerk Nancy Lowell, of 2,940 registered voters, 809 cast ballots, or 27 percent. She noted that the turnout for a town election was “pretty good.”