SWANZEY, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Following Town Election week in New Hampshire last week, the town of Swanzey will conduct a vote recount on one of their warrant articles. Of the 11 articles that town residents voted on last Tuesday, Article 3 will see the town take a second look at the ballots casted either in favor or in opposition.

Following a written request to the town, the town clerk announced in a statement that the recount will take place on Friday, March 20 at 1 p.m. at Swanzey Town Hall in the lower conference room, with the public invited to observe. This Article did have a simple majority on voting day of 678-485, or about 58 percent of the voting population in favor, however it needed 60 percent to become approved.

Article 3 posed the question of whether or not Swanzey should construct a brand new, $1.2 million Public Works facility on town owned property located at 98 Pine Street, with $150,000 coming from the Public Works Facility Expendable Trust Fund and the remaining $1.05 million coming through bonding.

According to the town’s Public Works Department, there were many reasons that this new facility would be beneficial for the town in the long run. At Swanzey’s deliberative session on Feb. 4, town officials painted an unflattering picture of the current facility, citing overcrowding, safety hazards, deteriorating conditions and non-compliance with workplace standards.

Much of the department’s $1 million equipment is stored outside due to a lack of space, which can shorten the equipment’s lifespan, which officials say will end up costing the town and residents more in maintenance costs. During winter storms and other unsavory weather, equipment stored outdoors can also pose safety risks to staff who operate such equipment.

This isn’t the only high profile, highly debated and hotly contested article that was on Swanzey’s ballot that failed to pass this year, but it is the only one that is getting a recount. A measure that would have rescinded the SB2 form of town meeting to a traditional open town meeting fell 809-345.

Articles 15 and 16, both on the ballot by petition and both related to the Christian Hill Road bridge, fell by larger margins. One would have preserved the bridge in its current location and the other would have delayed the bridge’s removal and formed a study committee.

As part of the recount on Friday, in accordance with state law, the seal of the ballots will be broken publicly, and all ballots will be counted by hand.