Nancy Morgan speaks to Phillips residents at the annual Town Meeting last Saturday. Morgan was elected as selectman for a one-year term. (David Hart photo) PHILLIPS — It took close to two hours to elect two new selectmen from the floor of the annual Phillips Town Meeting last Saturday. A crowd of nearly 130 had to cast their votes three times to elect Margaret Cosenza for a three-year term and four times to elect Nancy Morgan for a one-year term. This is after the first vote was thrown out.

Also elected was Evelyn Wilbur as Town Clerk who ran unopposed.

The three-year selectman’s seat opened when Steven Charles finished his term and decided to not return. John Wilbur resigned from his position as selectmen which created the opening for a one-year seat. Wilbur said that his job as a trucker was taking him out of state too often and wanted to offer his seat to someone who would give the town more time.

Phillips’ newest selectman, Margaret Cosenza, shares some of her visions for Town of Phillips. (David Hart photo) Town manager Jim Collins also resigned abruptly just two weeks before the town meeting. This left only selectman John Stinchfield at the front table who was joined by Tim Abbott from the budget committee.

In Phillips, voters nominate residents from the floor and a majority of the registered voters is needed elect a selectman. For the three-year term Cosenza was nominated along with Lincoln Haines, Bruce Wilcox and James Eustis who was not present. Cosenza, Haines and Wilcox took the floor to explain why voters should elect them.

The first vote was not counted, moderator Mike Ellis explained. “There were 120 ballots cast with 119 registered voters,” he said.

In the second round of voting Cosenza received 57 votes of the 123 registered voters, Haines received 48 votes, Wilcox had 11 votes and Eustis saw three.

In the third round, Cosenza needed 63 votes to get a majority, but the vote tally gave her 62 forcing another round. Haines trailed by 12 votes and Wilcox withdrew.

The final vote was announced by Ellis and gave Cosenza the three-year seat.

“This is all very positive,” Cosenza said. “The door of opportunity is here.”

For the one-year term Nancy Morgan, Charles Wilbur, Ray Gaudette and Josh Bachelder were nominated and they took the floor to explain why they wanted the seat.

After four rounds of voting which created moans and groans from the crowd for not meeting the majority, Morgan’s 60 votes beat Gaudette with 49 votes for the one-year term.

“I think its going to be a good board and it should be diverse,” Stinchfield said in a private conservation. “I am happy with the outcome and think we’ll work well together. Hopefully we’ll get the town back together with some unity.”

“This is going to be a group that is open to possibilities,” said resident Lauri Sibulkin.

As the meeting was approaching the two-and-a-half hour marker, voters went on to approve a municipal budget of $934,997 set by the budget committee. The budget was down $32,000 from the previous year.

Resident and budget committee member Dain Trafton made an amendment to cut $7,000 from the General Administration budget making it $138,963.

Fellow budget committee member Kenneth Ziglar explained that it was discovered that less appropriations were needed for the town’s highway department and amended a reduction of $5,400 from the $430,000 request. Both amendments were approved by the voters.

Before the meeting began, Rep. Tom Saviello was present to deliver two legislative sentiments from the 124th Legislature.

Laura White was recognized for her contributions to the American Legion Auxiliary.

Winona Davenport, to whom the town report was dedicated, was also honored that morning.

“They were some of the first people I met when I came to Phillips eight years ago. They have been my two close friends over the eight years I’ve served in the House,” Saviello explained. “It’s so fitting today to make these two presentations to these very special ladies.”