SHELBURNE — Two members with experience on the town’s Planning Board are running for a contested seat on the Selectboard in Tuesday’s town election. 

The election will take place at the Cowell Gymnasium on 51 Maple St., from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Selectboard member Margaret Payne has decided to step down due to personal reasons after one, three-year term.

Now both Planning Board members, Richard “Rick” LaPierre, and Tricia Yacovone-Biagi are running for the seat to succeed Payne. 

LaPierre, 73, a lifelong Shelburne resident, worked as the news and public affairs director at Capitol City, a radio station in New Hampshire when he was 20 years old. Locally, he has served over five years on the Shelburne Planning Board, with four of those years as chairman. He also served on the Franklin County Agricultural Society and operated the Potpourri Store & Stove Shop and LaPierre’s Advertising Agency. 

Over the past eight or nine months, LaPierre has filled in for a vacant spot on the Planning Board to complete an unexpired term. He said the position gave him the drive to get back into serving the town after retiring two years ago.

“I have the time [for] the responsibilities,” LaPierre said, “and I know it’s a big one that I’m looking to possibly serve as.”

If elected, LaPierre said he wants to bring independent thinking and a “no agenda” mindset to the position, so there’s more input from the community.

“You’re there to serve the people; what they want to do.” said LaPierre, “and then investigate and make a decision with a clear hit, not with pressure from one group or another.”

Yacovone-Biagi, 58  is currently serving a five-year term on the Planning Board which expires in 2024. She also serves as the town official coordinating the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant, is a member of the Franklin Medical Reserve Corps, edits Shelburne’s newsletter, and was on the COVID-19 Emergency Task Force. 

Before coming to Shelburne in 2018, Yacovone-Biagi said she had a “unique skill set” because she worked with different levels of government in Texas at the state and federal level and in private industry. 

“I’m not shy about talking to people in positions of power about issues that are really important to me,” said Yacovone-Biagi, “I feel that I have the skills to be able to lobby for our town.” 

If elected, Yacovone-Biagi, said she wants to review how long people are supposed to serve in their roles within town government and see if any positions can change within the bylaw to lower the commitment, in hopes of getting more people to serve. 

“I think that’s kind of the low-hanging fruit,” said Yacovone-Biagi. “I’ve noticed that just within town government [and] community organizations, ever since COVID, there’s been a real drop off.”

The other positions on the May 16 ballot are as follows: 

Assessor, three-year term, Maya Winfrey

Town Clerk, one-year term, Joseph Judd, incumbent

Moderator, one-year term, Roland Giguiere, incumbent

Shelburne Free Public Library Trustees, three-year term, Debra M. Washer, incumbent, and Ted Sicker, incumbent 

Planning Board, five-year term, no candidate on ballot

Recreation Committee, five-year term, no candidate on ballot

Recreation Committee, three-year unexpired term, Mary Lou Gallup 

Tree Warden, one-year term,  James T. Richardson, incumbent 

Mohawk Trail Regional School Committee, three-year term, no candidate on ballot

Constable, three-year- no candidate on ballot

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