Alna selectmen Monday night agreed to have the town elect a first selectman Tuesday, Dec. 14, open nominations Wednesday, Oct. 20 and close them Nov. 5.

“(Dec. 14) is not so close to Christmas and it will allow the vacancy to be filled a bit earlier” than the other date considered, Dec. 21, Second Selectman Linda Kristan told the meeting, held at the town office and over Zoom. The shortened nomination period avoids pushing the election into at least mid-January, Third Selectman Charles Culbertson said. “We’re trying to speed this up as quickly as possible.” 

They said polling times will be set, absentee ballots will be available 30 days before the election, and the warrant may be set at the next board meeting and may include other items. Doug Baston asked when the board will address the recent citizens’ petitions. “We’ll come back to it as soon as possible, I’m hoping by the next meeting,” Kristan answered.

The town has lacked a first selectman since Melissa Spinney resigned last spring after voters elected Kristan and Culbertson.