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Updated 5/13/26 at 1:37pm: Quotes from Dr. Paul Haughey, Superintendent of Schools, and Fire Chief Robert Parsons have been added.
SPENCER – Four career firefighters will remain in the department thanks to the passage of a Proposition 2 ½ override in Tuesday’s election.
The ballot question had a vote of 898-619 and sought $368,390 to fund the firefighters. The grant paying them runs out in February 2027, so the total in the first year is $184,194.
A second override question to fund the Spencer East Brookfield school department’s operating budget ($264,456) failed. The vote was 626 yes votes to 890 no votes.
Superintendent Paul Haughey noted, “The failure of this override is disappointing, particularly given the demonstrated needs of the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District.
While we respect the voice of the voters, this result creates significant, immediate challenges for our educational programming. Our focus has to now turn to working closely as a school leadership team to reassess the impact and identify the necessary, albeit difficult, steps to manage the budget within the current fiscal constraints.”
Fire Chief Robert Parsons said, “We are extremely pleased with the vote and that we’ll be able to keep the four firefighters and continue with 24hr/365 coverage.”
A total of 1,531 voters turned out, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The results are unofficial until certified by the town clerk’s office.
In contested races, Christopher Woodbury and Norman Letendre Jr. won seats on the Board of Selectmen with 831 and 628 votes, respectively. Both will serve three- year terms.
Gina Bedford received 592 votes and Jennifer Gaucher earned 476 votes.
In the race for moderator, Jason Brewster defeated Ralph Hicks. The vote was 794-632. The term is for two years.
In part, Brewster wrote on Facebook, “I feel incredibly blessed and proud to serve Spencer as your next moderator (the third youngest in the history of the Commonwealth!) I take my role very seriously and know I have very big shoes to fill of the beloved late Bill Shemeth.”
No candidate appeared on the ballot for the Spencer representative to the Spencer East Brookfield Regional School Committee or Park Commissioner.
(When those roles are filled, this article will be updated).
Jennifer Trigiano received 1,094 votes and will be the East Brookfield representative to the School Committee.
The other races were unopposed with results as follows: Rebecca Forand, treasurer/collector (1,100 votes); Pamela Woodbury, assessor (1,137 votes); Alyson Russo, library trustee (1,144 votes); Daniel Shields, Board of Health (1,134 votes); Raymond Holmes, tree warden (1,185 votes); Lawrence Dufault, (1,110 votes); and Donna Flannery, Housing Authority (1,177 votes).
Letendre, the new Selectman, also was re-elected as water commissioner with 1,158 votes.
In other uncontested races, Robert Zukowski was re-elected to the Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Committee (1,110 votes) for a three-year term and Mary Barrell received 1,121 votes to serve on that committee for two years.
