By Kelly Morgan,Staff Writer

HARTFORD – The town may have to hold a special election to fill a Board of Selectmen seat left vacant when Selectman-elect Rick Downing resigned Thursday.

In the meantime, the town’s only selectman, Lee Holman, said she has learned she cannot pay town employees without another board member on hand.

Although the town has had a policy of allowing one selectman to sign payroll warrants, the document is out of date, Holman said Friday. “It was supposed to be updated annually,” she said.

“We’re not bankrupt,” Holman said, “what we are is hogtied.”

Holman is hoping employees will be able to wait until after a June 24 election to get their next paychecks. A new selectman is expected to be elected that day, and Holman said she has been advised by town attorney Geoffrey Hole that the person can be sworn into office at the annual town meeting June 25.

The board needs a quorum, or at least two of its three members, to take any action. Holman has been serving alone since the resignation of Selectman Laura Marston on May 27. Selectman Scott Swain resigned March 3.

On Thursday, Holman was asking Downing if he would be willing to take office immediately when he announced his intention not to take the post. He said he was concerned about the possibility of being involved in a lawsuit stemming from a May 17 election in which he narrowly beat candidate Jason Rowe, 96-93.

Town clerk candidate Monica Mailly’s name was omitted from a number of ballots, the ballot box was opened before the close of the polls, and ballots were removed from the box that day. Downing pointed out on Thursday that with six votes invalidated during the election, his win over Rowe could easily be challenged.

Holman said she spoke with Hole on Friday and learned that Downing’s resignation has not left enough time for his seat to be filled during the June 24 election. Even in an “emergency” situation, Holman said, a town must make candidate papers available for 14 days. After the filing deadline has closed, a town must post a warrant and wait another 10 days before holding an election.

Holman was not in the town office when reached Friday and said she was reluctant to guess at how much the May 17 elections will cost due to attorney’s fees and the special election to fill Downing’s seat.

She did say, however, that Jason Rowe has taken out papers to run for Marston’s seat June 24. Hope McCabe also has taken out papers.

Both candidates have said they will appear at a special meeting June 14 to address voters.

Hole and Turner Town Clerk Eva Leavitt also will be on hand to answer questions about election procedures and town government.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the town hall.