Bulkley chosen
as council chairman

This story appeared in the March 23, 2007 edition of the Derry News
By Courtney Paquette

DERRY | A split Town Council elected Craig Bulkley as its new chairman Tuesday night, drawing cheers from one side of council chambers and groans and jeers from the other.

Craig Bulkley

Bulkley, who has served on the council for 14 years and was Derry's town administrator for two years, beat out Kevin Coyle for the post in a 4-3 vote.

Bulkley voted for himself, as did former Chairman Brian Chirichiello, Beverly Ferrante and new Councilor Rick Metts. Coyle voted for himself, as did Janet Fairbanks and new Councilor Brent Carney.

"I think I can be fair and firm at the same time," Bulkley said. "And lead us forward."

Chirichiello originally nominated Ferrante for the position, but she turned it down, citing family commitments. After Ferrante rejected the job, Fairbanks nominated Coyle. Chirichiello asked who else might be interested, and Bulkley said he was.

In asking for his colleagues' votes, Coyle told the council he thought it would be good for them to have a chairman who was in the minority. Last year, Coyle and Fairbanks found themselves in the minority during many votes.

Coyle headed up the Charter Commission and its failed bid to let the people vote on big-ticket bonds and the budget. The proposal was defeated by 45 votes in last week's election.

"We have a very divided town," Coyle said. "It would go a long way in unifying this council ... by appointing someone who is not seen as part of the majority."

The crowd started clapping when the council chose Coyle to lead the meetings if Bulkley is absent. He won over Ferrante in a 4-3 decision, with votes from Metts, Fairbanks, Carney and himself.

The meeting concluded with Coyle and Bulkley wrangling over the Derry Economic Development Corp.

"A little bit of friction just to keep the interest on the part of the public," Bulkley joked as he concluded his first meeting as chairman.

Londonderry Town Councilors are expected to elect their chairman Saturday, at a brief meeting following the annual Town Meeting at Londonderry High School.