Barre Select Board Picks Council on Aging Director in Split Vote

BARRE — November 27, 2017 — Barre Select Board votes 2-1 to offer Council on Aging director post to Eileen Clark-Sinding. The board interviewed four finalists Monday for the vacant director's position at the Barre Senior Center, which recently merged operations with Hardwick's Council on Aging. Numerical scores compiled across board members and advisory staff placed Joan narrowly ahead at 20.5 points to Clark-Sinding's 20, but a board majority cited her direct elder affairs administration experience and prior work within town government as decisive. Town Administrator Andrew was directed to open salary negotiations at the first pay step, with the board noting that Barre's pay scale is in line with comparable-population towns. The board designated Joan as its fallback candidate if talks stall, adding a potential wage authorization item to both the November 29 and December 4 meeting agendas. The dissenting member argued Joan showed a more adaptive, self-evaluating management style suited to the evolving demands of senior services.