Item Photo by Owen O’Rourke
Nahant Town Clerk Margaret Barile tests the voting machine that will be used in this Saturday’s election.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
NAHANT — Nahant residents are getting ready for an all-day government affair.
Town elections and the annual Town Meeting will be held Saturday at Town Hall. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Tiffany Room downstairs, and the meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m. upstairs in the hall.
Margaret Barile, town clerk, said the event is unique to the town.
People gather on the lawn before the meeting and sell items, such as T-shirts and water bottles, or hold bake sales, to raise money for town organizations as voters enter the building to cast votes.
This year 01908, a volunteer organization that builds community and develops creative solutions to town problems, and the Johnson Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization, will each have a table, Barile said.
Volunteers will also raise money for the town’s Fourth of July celebration, she said.
Next door at the Nahant Public Library, nearly 10,000 books will be for available at the Annual Book Sale.
“Instead of just a table, we’re having a whole book sale,” said Sharon Hawkes, library director.
The sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m outside, weather permitting, and will continue inside the building. Many of the books are being removed from the library’s collection, but the majority of them have been donated by the public.
All genres, including non-fiction, adult novels, large print books, gift books, and coffee table books, will be available. Hawkes received a large shipment of children’s books Wednesday afternoon, which will be sold for $.50 each. Most books will be sold for $1 or $2, she said.
The Friends of the Nahant Public Library invite residents to join the organization and collect donations. The Friends raise money to provide the library with programs, including last week’s Curious Creatures event that was attended by more than 50 people, and several museum passes.
“It’s a wonderful day,” Barile said. “Everyone dresses for the occasion. We decorate the hall nicely.”
The town has two contested races.
Susan Bonner, chairman of the Housing Authority, will face an opponent in this year’s race for the first time since she was elected 20 years ago. David Wilson, a retiree who works about 20 hours per week for the Cemetery Department, is seeking Bonner’s spot.
Both candidates are lifelong Nahant residents.
The authority is comprised of five commissioners who administer three state housing developments to more than 80 residents. The job consists of making sure the units are safe, pleasant and enjoyable places for residents to live.
Chesley Taylor Jr., a former School Committee member, submitted papers in March to run for a vacant Board of Selectmen seat. At the time, it appeared he would run unopposed. While his name will be the only one on the ballot, Jennifer McCarthy, a third grade teacher, is running a sticker campaign for the seat.
The seat was vacated by Michael Manning, who served on the board for 21 years and decided not to seek an eighth term.
Barile said she has heard at least one resident express interest in joining the Planning Board race with a write-in campaign on election day.
Diana Brandi, president of the Nahant Garden Club, said she is excited about the progress the town is making with sustainability and credits the Town Meeting process to many changes that have gone into effect.
Nahant has an open Town Meeting, which allows all registered voters in town to participate. Voters will have their hands stamped when they check in at the door. The stamp will be used to identify valid votes during the meeting, Barile said.
“Kids will be out playing on the lawn while parents are inside voicing their opinions,” said Barile.
There are 2,593 registered voters in Nahant, she said.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte