Board won't pursue legal action against Finnegan
By Patrick Quirk / News Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 13, 2004

UXBRIDGE Selectmen decided last night not to further pursue legal action in their case against Robert Finnegan, but to ask a Worcester Superior Court judge to reconsider a recount of other contested races.

     "Let's just be done with it," Selectman Chairman Harry A. Romasco said at last night's 3 1/2 hour-plus meeting.

     According to Romasco, former Selectman Robert Finnegan who filed a lawsuit in Worcester Superior Court challenging the April 13 men election and subsequent April 26 recount has decided to no longer pursue his case.

     However, men decided last night to ask Judge Thomas P. Billings to reconsider his decision to not check the contested School Committee and Finance Committee races. They will take the matter up during a July 21 conference in Worcester Superior Court with Billings.

     "How can we put a finish to this knowing that 161 votes were not counted," Selectman Peter Baghdasarian said at a meeting with only six member in the audience.

     According to Baghdasarian, an April 26 recount petitioned by Selectman Don Sawyer, who originally lost to Finnegan yet subsequently won following the recount, found that 161 votes had been incorrectly counted as blanks on election night by the town's Accu-Vote machines.

     On May 28, Billings denied the town's request to check the other two races, citing violation of a 10-day appeal period.

     "I see this as a window of opportunity and want to use it," said Baghdasarian.

     In other business, Town Clerk Holly Gallerani announced the town's receipt of a $7,000 check from the secretary of state to fund upgrades to existing voting machines. "They should be d by the end of the month," said Gallerani.

     The initial push for upgrades to the voting machines was made by state Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge.