Burgess Recount Will Happen Tuesday

The Registrars of Voters in Naugatuck will recount all of the burgess votes next week since such a small number separated the ninth and tenth spots. Nine of the 12 burgess candidates get on the Board of Mayor and Burgesses, commonly known as the "borough board."  

When all the votes were tallied late Tuesday night, the Registrars announced that Alex Olbrys finished 22 votes ahead of Ed Fennell for the ninth and final spot. Olbrys received 1,843 votes, while Fennell took 1,821. Both Fennell and Olbrys are Republicans.

Both parties had indicated early Tuesday night that Fennell had finished eighth in burgess voting. But their numbers, taken at the polls, were not accurate, the registrars said. 

The votes will be recounted at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at Town Hall. Connecticut General State Statute 9-445 states a recount is necessary if someone wins by less than 20 votes or less than one-half of one percent of those who voted. Since 4,907 people voted Tuesday in Naugatuck, Olbrys would have needed to win by 25 votes to avoid the recount. 

Fennell, who is active in local scouts and is a relative newcomer to politics, was appointed to the Board of Mayor and Burgesses over the summer to replace Ron San Angelo, whose seat became vacant when he moved for a job out of state.

Olbrys, 21, is an Inland Wetlands Commissioner who is a senior at Southern Connecticut State University.