No changes to board after recount

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A recount Tuesday of the votes for burgess candidates confirmed Republican Alex Olbrys, left, held won the final burgess seat over fellow Republican Ed Fennell.
A recount Tuesday of the votes for burgess candidates confirmed Republican Alex Olbrys, left, won the final burgess seat over fellow Republican Ed Fennell.

NAUGATUCK — Republican Alex Olbrys held on to the ninth and final seat on the borough board following a recount Tuesday.

The recount was triggered by a tight finish on Election Day. Election night figures showed Olbrys, a 21-year-old full-time student at Southern Connecticut State University, won the final seat by 22 votes, 1,843-1,821, over fellow Republican Ed Fennell.

State statute requires a recount be done if a candidate wins by less than 20 votes or less than one-half of 1 percent of the total of people who voted. The 22-vote margin fell under the latter requirement.

Town Clerk Michelle Dowling said the recount showed Olbrys won the final seat by 24 votes, 1,848-1,824.

“I’m humbled and honored to have the opportunity to serve,” said Olbrys, who added it comes as a bit of a relief to have the recount over.

Early figures on election night showed Olbrys had lost. But those numbers proved to be wrong so he was then told he won, only to be told a recount had to be held.

Olbrys said he’s looking forward to helping out the board and promoting everything Naugatuck has to offer, such as the Naugatuck State Forest.

Dowling said there were also some minor changes the vote tallies for the remaining burgess candidates, but none of them changed the results.  

Fennell had been filling the term of former burgess Ronald San Angelo and since the election results were in dispute he remained on the Board of Mayor and Burgesses for its Nov. 6 meeting. During the meeting, Fennell thanked his supporters for their generosity and kindness.

“I said to Alex many times as we campaigned together, ‘If it’s not me Alex, I’d love for it to be you.’ So, however things work out, I’m OK with it,” Fennell said.  

Fennell said he will be a call away if the board needs any assistance in the future.

“This was one of those bucket list items for me,” said Fennell about serving on the board.

Luke Marshall contributed to this article.