NEW SALEM — A term on the Selectboard and another as an assessor are the two contested seats in this year’s town election. 

Sixteen municipal positions are up for grabs in the election to be held Monday, May 6 at 24 South Main St. 

A two-year term on the Selectboard is being contested by Karyn Briand, of Lovers Lane, and Jean Derderian, of Old Main Street.

A one-year term as assessor is also contested by William Lafley, of South Main Street, and Carl Seppala, of Moosehorn Road. 

In addition, two seats with three-year terms are available for the School Committee. However, only one candidate, Barbara Doyle, of Cooleyville Road, is on the ballot. 

Other uncontested races include a three-year term on the Selectboard, incumbent Wayne Hachey, of Neilson Road; a three-year term on the Board of Health, Karyn Briand, of Lovers Lane; a three-year term as town clerk, incumbent Stacy Senflug, of South Main Street; a three-year term as moderator, Cameron Dunbar, of North Main Street; a three-year term as constable, Alfred Ohlson, of West Street; a three-year term as assessor, incumbent David Briand, of Lovers Lane; a five-year term on the Planning Board, incumbent David Cramer, of Shutesbury Road; a three year-term as library trustee, incumbent Judith Northrup-Bennett, of Cooleyville Road Extension and a one-year term as library trustee, Eli MacCullagh, of North Main Street.

For the first time, New Salem residents will vote for members of the Municipal Light Plant Board. A municipal light plant — known as an MLP — is an electric or gas service provided by a town to its residents. In New Salem’s case, this is the anticipated broadband service expected to go live in 2019. 

The MLP Board will be responsible for managing the MLP and overseeing its director, as well as making decisions regarding distribution and supply. The candidates for all three seats are members of the town’s Broadband Committee, who have been working to bring New Salem high-speed internet under the state’s Last Mile program. 

These candidates are Kathryn Soule-Regine, of West Street, who is running for a three-year term; Paul Chapin, of West Street, who is running for a two-year term, and Susan Cloutier, of South Main Street, who is running for a one-year term.  

Upon the expiration of each of the three MLP Board terms, each becomes a three-year term, thus creating a board with staggered terms.