CHESTERVILLE — Selectman John Worth was re-elected Monday by a vote of 73-69 over challenger Edward Hastings.

After daytime voting hours, voters reconvened at 7 p.m. to swiftly move through the 59 articles on the warrant, expressing democracy in action, moderator James Grippe said.

Before agreeing to spend thousands on road repair projects, the very last article was moved and taken up first.

The article  asked voters to raise $100 to erect a sign named “John Gee Corner” at the corner of Chesterville Hill and Stinchfield Hill roads.

State Senator Thomas Saviello, R-Wilton, told residents Gee was a World War II hero who was at Normandy and volunteered to serve because he knew how to swim. Residents agreed and appropriated the money for the sign for the longtime resident.

Gee thanked the town and joked that when he comes home, he can look up and see he’s in the right driveway.

Voters agreed to raise $84,000 to complete a repair project on Zions Hill Road after a few questions and comments were made. A total of 1.1 miles will be torn up and built up, Road Foreman Patrick McHugh said.

Hastings suggested that options for road repair be put before the town and/or a road committee be formed to recommend road repairs.

Comments were made on how long the current method of road repair lasts. McHugh agreed that newer methods are better but the town couldn’t afford to do it the right way.

Voters also agreed to raise $10,000 for the continuing effort to deal with last May’s washout on the George Thomas Road. A grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency has made its way to Washington, but in the meantime selectmen wanted the funds to “continue the process of moving forward,” Selectman Orin Knowles said.

If the town receives the $325,000 grant, a match of 25 percent or about $75,000 will be needed.

Selectman David Archer said at this point, they were looking for the $10,000 amount to put in the account and continue working. Engineering work has been done on a proposed bypass road from Route 41 that would skirt around the unstable section of George Thomas Road. There is a vernal pool that needs to be checked later this spring and that will cost more money, along with other items, he explained.

The amount already spent by the town, including town labor and materials, can be considered as part of the 25 percent match.

State Rep. Paul Gilbert, D-Jay, told residents he wanted to be sure they knew the number of hours spent and meetings the selectmen have already had trying to find a solution to the May 7, 2010, road collapse.

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