By Bonnie Adams, Government Editor
Westborough – Westborough's Annual Town Election and Annual Town Meeting will no longer be held in May. Instead, both will be held in March.
The Annual Town Election will be held Tuesday, March 6, 2012, which is also the day the town will be holding the Presidential Primary. Officials hope that by holding the two elections at the same time, more residents will come out to vote.
As a result of the Town Election being held earlier in the year, the official 2012 town election season will begin Monday, Dec. 5. Residents interested in running for an open spot in town government may take out nomination papers that day.
There are two spots open for the Board of Selectmen, currently held by incumbents Lydia Goldblatt and George Thompson. At the Nov. 29 selectmen's meeting, Thompson announced he is not running for another term.
There is one spot open on the School Committee. That spot is currently held by Karen Henderson.
Other open positions include: three for the Trustees of the Public Library; one for the Planning Board; and one for the Assabet Valley Regional Technical School Committee.
The last day to take out papers is Friday, Jan.13, at 5 p.m. Those papers must be filed with Town Clerk Nancy Yendriga for certification by Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 5 p.m.
Residents who are currently not registered to vote may do so by Wednesday, Feb. 15, 8 p.m., in Yendriga's office, which is located in the Westborough Town Hall, 34 West Main St.
The Annual Town Election will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the following polling places:
Precinct 1: Gibbons Middle School Gym, 20 Fisher St.
Precinct 2: Hastings Elementary School Gym, 111 E. Main St.
Precinct 3: Gibbons Middle School Gym, 20 Fisher St.
Precinct 4: Mill Pond Intermediate School, 6 Olde Hickory Path
Precinct 5: Mill Pond Intermediate School, 6 Olde Hickory Path
The Annual Town Meeting will take place Saturday, March 17, 2012,starting at 1 p.m. in the Westborough High School Auditorium, 90 West Main St., and will adjourn to additional nights if needed.
For more information, contact Yendriga at 508-366-3020.