The White River Valley Herald

Van Alstyne Honored at Barnard Town Mtg.



Ruari Edmunds was among the youngest attendees at the Barnard town meeting on Tuesday. If his t-shirt is to be believed, he dug it. (Herald / Ben DeFlorio)

Ruari Edmunds was among the youngest attendees at the Barnard town meeting on Tuesday. If his t-shirt is to be believed, he dug it. (Herald / Ben DeFlorio)

Barnard’s Town Meeting began with the presentation of a resolution honoring 99-year-old Floyd Van Alstyne, thanking him for his years of service to the town, read and issued by House Representative Randall Szott.

The document began “Whereas, few persons have served their communities with the dedication and longevity of Floyd Van Alstyne.” A number of personal, professional and civic accomplishments were listed, including his service in World War II, his sawmill, “impressive municipal service career in Barnard that endured for 63 years, which included cemetery commissioner for 10 years, constable for 23 years, fire warden for 32 years, health officer for 12 years, lister for 17 years, planning commissioner for 18 years, poundkeeper for 10 years, and selectboard member for three years,” as well as 17 years serving on the Ottauquechee Regional Commission, and being a co-founder of the East Barnard Volunteer Fire Department.”

Van Alstyne got a standing ovation from the town as he accepted his honor. His first town meeting in 1946, he said, was likely before most people in the room were born. Since then, he boasted, he’s only missed three meetings, once because he and his wife of 71 years, Marjorie, were invited to Florida, and twice because he had sap to boil.

The meeting moved forward with little debate. No town positions were contested. Tim Johnson was reelected to the selectboard for a three-year term, Lois Resseguie was reelected lister for a three-year term, and Diane Rainey retained her position as tax collector and delinquent tax collector. Tom Morse was elected auditor for three years, and Wes Hennig and Christopher Campbell retained positions as first and second constable respectively. Also elected: Lee Resseguie, town agent, one-year term; Ellen Miles, library trustee, five years; Sue Lewis, cemetery commissioner, five years.

Lewis questioned the length of the one-year terms, and made a motion to consider changing this. The motion was accepted, with the selectboard tasked to look into the legality of this move.

Tom Morse made a motion to authorize the board to reconcile a fiscal year 2018 general fund and highway surplus. Of the $272,000 general fund surplus, $150,000 will be carried forward to the general fund, with the remainder to offset the current year’s tax rate. A $142,544 surplus will be carried forward as required by state law.

Much of the highway surplus reflected money allocated for repaving in fall of 2018, a project postponed due to the early arrival of winter. The state of Barnard’s roads has been an issue of concern, and a “paving/resurfacing fund” was established, as a reserve fund which may be carried forward year to year. A highway fund budget of $1,252,205 was approved, of which $853,465 will be raised by taxes. A General fund budget of $822,284, of which $585,984 shall be raised by taxes, was approved.

Before closing the town portion of the meeting, Jeanne Johnson gave a heartfelt thanks for the dedications of the town report to her recently passed husband Maroni, whose family legacy and work ethic still live on in the town among many of their 13 offspring. Tim Johnson is a member of Barnard’s selectboard, and was reelected to another term. Vivian (née Ward) Webster was also honored for her legacy of civic duty, serving as auditor, and assistant to the town clerk, and her son Rock Webster also sits on Barnard’s selectboard today.

School Meeting

In the school meeting portion of the meeting which followed, the town approved a school budget of $1,311,625, amounting to $16,991 per equalized pupil.

Board member Carin Park explained the changes in budget that resulted in an increase of 0.65% from current year spending, including increased health insurance rates, an increase in foreign language for the upper grades, a move from 3-4 days of principal on staff, and a move from 1-2 days of a school nurse on staff. Some savings were made in switching from a contracted grounds position to a salaried position.

There was little questioning about the budget at hand, but more questions concerning the state of the school in merger proceedings. Though the State Board of Education issued recommendations for the Barnard Academy to merge with the unified district, a meeting held in December of the Windsor Central MUUSD approved a motion to work with Barnard on new terms for a merger, which will come before Barnard voters again at no certain time.

Carin Park was reelected to another three-year term, and Becky Ward was officially elected for the one year remainder of a three-year term. She has served in Andy Cole’s place, since he stepped down after many years of service.