ATHOL – Town Clerk Nancy Burnham went before the Selectboard at its meeting Tuesday, May 6, to speak on plans for the special election that must be held to replace former member Andy Sujdak.

Sujdak resigned from the board on April 29 after a video was posted to social media in which he made disparaging comments about newly elected board members Marc Maxwell and Mitch Grosky and allegedly threatened an unnamed resident. The incident took place at a local pub.

“So, I took a look at the dates,” said Burnham. “If it was my preference, I’d really love to hold it on June 30. However, there’s not enough time. We need to allow ample time for someone to come and take out nomination papers, as well as for the candidates to collect signatures. Generally, that timeframe is three to four weeks.

“Mass General Law does require that the deadline for someone to turn in their nomination papers is 49 days prior to the election. So, that would put the election at the end of July, early August, which is not necessarily the ideal to hold an election as a lot of voters are away on vacation. And it’s a little more difficult for my election workers as they’re also away on vacation.”

Burnham then explained that, after checking with each of the three wardens who oversee their respective precincts, her recommended date is Monday, Sept. 8. Whoever is elected, she said, would serve the two years remaining on Sujdak’s term, which would expire on April 5, 2027.

According to information distributed by Burnham, nomination papers would become available on Monday, June 16, and must be returned to the Registrars of Voters by Monday, July 21. Potential candidates who qualified for the ballot would have until Friday, Aug. 29, to withdraw their name from consideration. Any ballot question the Selectboard might want to add to the election ballot would need to be in Burnham’s hands no later than Monday, Aug. 4.

Any resident not currently registered to vote in Athol will have until Friday, Aug. 29, to register. Applications for mail-in voting must be turned in by Tuesday, Sept. 2. The warrant for the special election must be published by Thursday, Aug. 28.

“This seems like a very reasonable schedule and what I really respect about this is that it doesn’t rush the process,” said Grosky. “It gives everyone a chance to do some thinking and get the work done that they need to.”

With no further comment, the board, upon Burnham’s recommendation, voted unanimously to set Sept. 8 as the date for the special election. The town clerk said polls at Town Hall would be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.