Natalie Bankmann and Owen Carpenter-Zehe reported this story on assignment from the Bradford Journal-Opinion. The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost.
Residents gathered at the Topsham Town Hall on March 5 for a bittersweet Town Meeting Day. Seniors, parents, and local Boy Scouts who were fulfilling their “citizenship in the community” badge packed the hall chairs. They came to vote on the town budget and other matters but, just as importantly, to wave goodbye to their town clerk and treasurer, Cynthia Flannigan, who retired after 25 years in office.
With about 110 seats filled, participation grew almost 28% from 86 voters last year. “The turnout is much larger than usual, since everyone’s here to recognize Cindy,” said Stacy Emerson, who has lived in Topsham since 2006.
Voters enjoyed a sendoff cake for Flannigan while they debated who would take over her position. By the morning of town meeting, no nominee for town clerk had been named. The elected position is “basically the most important job,” said resident Rebecca Osborne, adding that a candidate needs excellent computer skills these days. “It’s important for the new town clerk to have some experience.”
A town clerk manages all of the town’s archived files and town records — including copies of property permits, mortgage documents and even a catalog of underground storage tanks. Flannigan also served as Topsham treasurer, so the next clerk would have to have those financial skills to fill both roles.
Karen Walker and Kara Appleton agreed to run for the spot. Walker, who has lived in Topsham since 2016 and was the previous town auditor, said she threw her hat in the ring after several residents encouraged her.
“Cindy’s shoes are hard to fill,” she said as the meeting began.
Appleton, a West Topsham native, emphasized her experience as a district coordinator for the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery and as owner of Taste of Vermont, an online store selling the state’s products. Appleton also said she gained political insight from her grandfather, who served on the selectboard.
Walker won the vote.
Town meeting participants then elected other town officials, discussed an increase in the town budget and debated whether to build a proposed town garage.
And they left the meeting with the echoes of Flannigan’s final speech in their minds:
“There has always been an east side and a west side, and I really feel like we have moved past that,” she said of Topsham’s combined geography. “You are all more family than you may realize.”