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Kent Town Hall
Leila Hawken
Northwest Corner towns are officiated and represented by a varied group of commission members, staff and elected officials, positions that run the gamut from salaried to volunteer, appointed to elected, and with a range of term lengths.
This system of governance dates back to before the founding of the United States of America, and while the structure remains intact, certain components have changed over time and continue to change to this day. Some towns have shifted from electing Town Hall staff such as town clerk, tax collector and treasurer to appointing employees in these positions. Salisbury has an appointed town clerk. Cornwall will appoint a tax collector this November for the first time. North Canaan and Sharon still elect such officials, but have held public hearings earlier this year on the potential shift to appointments.
Understanding these positions can be a complex task, which is why a Lakeville Journal reporter relied on the help of town officials and municipal documents to compile a who’s who and what’s what of our towns’ governments. Find below a primer for the complicated world of Northwest Corner administration and authority, but bear in mind this list is not comprehensive, and many more vital roles keep things running at town hall and beyond.
Board of Selectmen
At the heart of Connecticut’s municipal governance schema is the quintessentially New England selectboard, composed of the first selectman who administers day-to-day governance in town, and is assisted by two other selectmen. The Board of Selectmen is responsible for appointing various positions and roles in town commissions and for hiring and firing staff, as well as initiating and instituting town ordinances via Connecticut’s municipal democratic format, the Town Meeting. All selectmen in the Northwest Corner are allocated salaries from the town budget.
In other parts of Connecticut, some towns have begun the shift to a more modern leadership system. Winchester, for example, has adopted a “Council-Manager” form of governance. In this system, a non-partisan town manager was appointed to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the town, supervising department heads and town staff, and the Board of Selectmen acts as the legislative body.
Planning and Zoning and the Board of Finance
Beyond the selectmen, who are elected to two-year terms, the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Finance chairs play major roles in towns’ development. Both positions, which are volunteer, are appointed by a vote within the board or commission, whose members are elected by residents. The officer’s terms are limited by their total term time on the commission, which is either four or six years depending on the town.
The P&Z chair helms the commission that reviews projects that relate to the town’s zoning regulations and directs development to align with the town’s state-mandated Plan of Conservation and Development.
The BOF chair heads the commission that reviews and approves the annual municipal and education spending plans and sets the annual mill rate.
Town Clerk
The town clerk, which is appointed or elected depending on the town, is a crucial, paid staff position responsible for maintaining the public record as well as keeping important statistics and managing licensing.
Finance Director
The treasurer, or finance director, oversees town accounts, and is responsible for receiving, investing and maintaining records of municipal funds. The treasurer is a paid staff position that is appointed or elected in different towns.
Tax Assessor and Collector
The municipal government is exclusively responsible for the assessment of property taxes, and the tax assessor is the agent who ensures assessments are made properly, and that the grand list remains accurate. The tax collector’s duty is to oversee the proper collection of those taxes. These paid positions are variously elected and appointed and may be part-time or full-time. Several of our towns employ the same assessor or collector.
Zoning Enforcement Officer and Land Use Administrator
The zoning enforcement officer is the municipal staff point person for all land use commissions, such as P&Z, Inland Wetlands and Watercourses, and in some cases a historic district or preservation commission. Also known in many towns as the Land Use Administrator, this paid position receives all applications and inquiries relating to land use, issues permits for to those applications, and investigates violations of zoning and IWWC regulations.
Salisbury
Salisbury’s first selectman is Curtis Rand, who is currently serving his tenth term in the role. The salary for the position is budgeted at $101, 835 for fiscal year ’26. The second and third selectmen, whose salaries are budgeted at $11,540, are Christian Williams and Katherine Kiefer. All selectmen’s terms expire with the municipal elections this fall, but they may run for re-election.
P&Z commissioners serve four-year terms, with current chair Michael Klemens’ term ending in 2027. The BOF chair, Pari Forood, holds a six-year term, set to expire in 2029.
The town clerk is a BOS-appointed, four-year term position in Salisbury, currently held by Kristine Simmons. The clerk’s salary is budgeted at $69,696.
Salisbury refers to its chief financial officer as its comptroller, a role responsible for all operations of the town’s finance department. The appointed position is budgeted at $99,650, and is held by Joseph Cleaveland as a four-year term.
The tax assessor position, held by Kayla Johnson who performs the role for many towns in the area, is appointed and budgeted for a $75,000 salary.
The tax collector is a four-year appointed position, held by Jean Bell. The position’s salary is budgeted at $62,550.
Abby Conroy is the town Director of Land Use, a hired staff position. The role has a budgeted salary of $99,685 for FY’26.
Sharon
Sharon’s first selectman is Casey Flanagan, currently serving his first term which is set to expire this year like all selectmen across our towns. The first selectman’s salary is budgeted at $84,821 for FY’26. The rest of the board is filled by Lynn Kearcher and John Brett. Kearcher was paid $6,221 for the role during the last financial year, while Brett declined payment.
P&Z’s chair is Laurance Rand III, serving a four-year term set to expire in 2029. The BOF is headed by Thomas Bartram, also serving a four-year term that ends in 2029.
Sharon’s town clerk is Linda Amerighi, who has served over 30 years in the role. Its salary is budgeted at $63,803 for FY’26, and runs four-year terms. The BOS is currently reviewing a draft ordinance that would transition the role from being publicly elected to BOS-appointed.
Tina Pitcher is the town treasurer, an elected position with a two-year term length. The treasurer’s salary is budgeted at $22,825.
The tax assessor is an appointed part-time role with no defined term length, held by Jennifer Dubray who works in several towns in the region. The town has budgeted $53,799 for its salary.
The tax collector, an elected role serving two-year terms, is Donna Christensen. The position is budgeted for a $41,179 salary.
Sharon’s Land Use Administrator is a BOS-appointed role, served by Jamie Casey. The position’s payment is divided between its various commission affiliations: $44,640 for P&Z and $8,599 for the IWWC.
Kent
Marty Lindenmayer is currently serving his first term as Kent’s first selectman. The position is budgeted for a $83,647 salary, while the second and third selectmen are set to be paid $6,051 each. Lynn Mellis Worthington and Glenn Sanchez are currently sitting on the board, which is set to move around with Lindenmayer’s departure in November.
P&Z is led by Wes Wyrick, whose six-year term on the commission expires this year.
The BOF is currently led by Nancy O’Dea Wyrick, whose six-year term also ends this year.
Kent’s clerk is Darlene Brady, who is serving a four-year term in the elected role. The position’s salary is budgeted at $66,723.
The town treasurer is Barbara Herbst, who works for both Kent and Cornwall. The position is held in four-year terms, and is appointed by the first selectman. Its salary is budgeted at $52,569.
The tax assessor, currently Jennifer Dubray, is appointed by the BOS and has no stated term limit (TK confirm). The town has budgeted $51,069 for the position.
The tax collector is an elected role of two-year terms, currently held by Deborah Devaux. The position is budgeted $47,744.
Kent divides the salary of its Land Use Administrator, currently Tai Kern, between P&Z ($59,115) and the IWWC ($31,830). This is an appointed employee position.
Cornwall
Gordon Ridgway has been Cornwall’s first selectman since 1991, and is currently serving his 18th term. Rocco Botto and Jen Hulburt Markow fill the other two board positions. The first selectman’s salary is budgeted for $68,217 while the second and third selectmen are paid $4,961 each.
The P&Z chair in Cornwall is Anna Timell, who will serve until her term ends in 2029.
Joseph Pryor is the BOF chair, and his term will also run out in 2029.
The town clerk is Vera Dineen, who serves an elected two-year elected position, set to expire in 2026. The clerk’s salary is allocated $53,378 on the FY’26 budget.
The town’s finances are handled by both a chief finance officer, Barbara Herbst, who was appointed to her position and is budgeted for a $47,371 salary.
The tax assessor’s salary is $25,046, and is an appointed position with no term limit currently held by Kayla Johnson.
The tax collector position was recently changed from an elected role to an appointed one, and is held by Jean Bouteiller, whose term ends this year. The budgeted salary for the collector is $30,935.
The town’s zoning enforcement is handled by Land Use Administrator Spencer Musselman, who is paid hourly at a rate of $37.90. The town has budgeted approximately $28,500 in total land use wages for the fiscal year.
Falls Village
Dave Barger is currently serving his first term as Falls Village’s first selectman. The position has a budgeted salary of $40,540, while the other two selectmen are paid $5,335. Those roles are held by Chris Kinsella and Judy Jacobs.
P&Z is chaired by Greg Marlowe, who just began a new term this summer. His five year term expires in May 2030.
Ginger Betti is serving as the finance chair, with her six-year term on the commission set to end this fall.
The town clerk is an elected position with a four-year term, currently occupied by Johanna Mann. The role is budgeted a salary of $36,613.
Michelle Lynn Hansen is treasurer/bookkeeper, paid two separate salaries for each role for a budgeted total of $39,703. The position is appointed by the BOS and served in four-year terms.
Kayla Johnson is the town’s chief tax assessor, an appointed position, and is budgeted a salary of $25,403. The town also hires an assistant assessor, currently Theresa Graney, whose salary is marked at $13,484. Both positions are appointed with no term limit.
Collecting duties are handled by Rebecca Juchert-Derungs, whose salary is set at $22,374. The position is appointed and serves a four year term.
Falls Village is developing a new position in the ’26 fiscal year for a joint planning consultant and ZEO role, currently held by Janell Mullen and budgeted for a salary of $26,160. The role is appointed, with no term limit.
North Canaan
Brian Ohler is serving his first term as first selectman, joined by Craig Whiting and Jesse Bunce on the board. The first selectman’s salary is budgeted at $24,000, while the second and third selectmen are paid $6,500 each.
P&Z is led by chair Mike O’Connor, whose four-year term ends in 2027..
Doug Humes is chair of the BOF, and his term will conclude in 2029 after a six-year term.
The clerk’s office is currently unoccupied since the ongoing absence of Jean Jacquier beginning in February of this year. The position was allocated a salary of $38,000 for the fiscal year.
Emily Minacci is the town’s treasurer with a budgeted salary of $27,000.
The tax collector’s office was also also vacated earlier this year when Jennifer Jacquier left resigned. It has since been filled by Launa Goslee as a contractor until the November election. The position is budgeted a salary of $23,000.
The clerk, treasurer and tax collector are currently elected positions, though a vote to install ordinances that would switch each to an appointed office with a four-year term length will be on the November municipal election ballot. If voted through, any switch of a position to be appointed will only happen after this election cycle is completed.
Jennifer Dubray handles the tax assessor duties in town, which are budgeted $39,175 in compensation. It is an appointed position with no term length.
The town also appoints a ZEO, George Martin, with a salary of $15,100 laid out on the budget.
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David Thorne Bayersdorfer
Aug 27, 2025
SALISBURY — On Aug. 18, 2025, the luckiest man in the world, David Thorne Bayersdorfer, died peacefully at Noble Horizons surrounded, as always, by family and friends. David frequently told all who would listen that he was the luckiest man; to be married to his beautiful wife Nancy; to have two wonderful children, Cara and Jordan; to live in the Northwest Corner of Connecticut, a community he happily called home for more than 50 years; and to teach and coach at a high school he loved.
According to David, his luck began when he was born on May 3, 1946 to Frank and Beatrice Bayersdorfer in Teaneck, New Jersey.He spent his childhood at 231 Queen Anne Road.He loved growing up with his three brothers, John, Frank, and Roger, in Bogota, New Jersey where his early athletic achievements landed him in the Bogota High School Athletic Hall of Fame. As luck would have it, he was admitted to and then graduated from Syracuse University in 1968, setting him on a course to spend most of his adult life as an educator and coach. While at Syracuse, he met and immediately proposed to Nancy Jones of Lakeville, Connecticut. He had to wait for her answer, but after proudly serving his country in the Marine Corps he married Nancy and the happy and lucky couple settled in the Northwest Corner.
David soon found his dream job as a history teacher and football coach at Housatonic Valley Regional High School where he spent the next 33 years of his life, always finding the greatest joy among students and athletes.He wore many hats during his years at Housy, serving as Athletic Director, Vice Principal, and interim Principal as well as enthusiastically coaching football, basketball, golf, and even cheerleading.During this time he received two advanced degrees; a Master’s in secondary education from Central Connecticut State University in 1981 and a 6th year degree from Southern Connecticut State University in 1992.In 2008, he was inducted into the HVRHS Athletic Hall of Fame, which he helped found during his time as Athletic Director.
David found further luck, and shocked his family members, when he tried out and landed his dream role as Joe Boyd in “Damn Yankees” for TriArts in 2000 despite not having any previous acting experience…or talent. He quickly became a local regular treading the boards at the Sharon Playhouse, with notable roles in The Full Monty, Crazy For You, Kiss Me Kate, and My Fair Lady.
As David’s luck continued, he retired from education in 2011 giving him more time for his beloved six grandchildren – Cara and Patrick’s sons Jack, Colin, and Luke, and Jordan and Meghan’s children Nash, Locke, and Nell.He enjoyed perfecting his golf game with regular Wednesday night beatdowns of his good-natured buddies, showing off his milfoil management techniques on the Lake, and making countless but joyful trips to the town dump.He considered himself very lucky to see the world with his adventurous wife, journeying to Italy, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and Africa while always acknowledging his love of travel truly started with an epic cross-country drive with his less-than-enthusiastic family in 1990.He looked most forward to his yearly baseball trips with his favorite son Jordan and favorite son-in-law Patrick.
Retirement also allowed David more time to serve his adopted hometown.He proudly acted as Senior Warden at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury for over a decade, won the Community Award of Merit, and was a member of the Democratic Town Committee, Salisbury Central Board of Education, and the Salisbury Planning and Zoning Committee. He served as Chair of the HVRHS 21st Century Fund, helping give teachers and students exciting and innovative opportunities beyond the classroom. He ran the Salisbury Youth Summer Jobs Program which introduced many young people to service within their community.He also taught exhaustively-researched classes at the Taconic Learning Center, continuing his pursuit of knowledge and his love of helping others which he proudly passed down to his daughter Cara, a public-school educator.
It is said of many men: To know him is to love him.While it was true of David, it’s also true that if you had contact with him you knew he loved you. David will be remembered as kind, fun, and ever-so-curious about life, relentlessly celebrating his loved one’s achievements with constant, powerful support. His wife, his children and grandchildren, his many former students and athletes, and his friends and family will miss him dearly.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury. Burial will follow in Salisbury Cemetery. Ryan Funeral Home, Lakeville, is in care of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the HVRHS 21st Century Fund.David would also love it if you watched your children or grandchildren play a ball game, go to a good local play, or have a catch with a friend or loved one in his memory.
To offer an online condolence, please visit ryanfhct.com
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John N. Franzese
Aug 27, 2025
CANAAN — John N. Franzese, was born on Dec. 10, 1947, and died on Aug. 22, 2025, at age 77.
John was born and raised in Huntington, New York. He served in the United States Army, stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War. He rejoined the Army Reserves, serving for seventeen years, rising to the rank of Staff Sargent E7.
John is survived by his wife of forty-five years, Mary B. Franzese. He was the father of John L. Franzese, of Seoul, Korea, and the stepfather of Christine Zoro, of Boston, Theresa Zoro, of Brooklyn, and the grandfather of Wyeth and Olive Billinger. He is also survived by his beloved sister, Terry Kirillin; brother-in-law, Alex Kirillin; and nephews, Gregory and Michael Kirillin. He was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and grandfather.
John moved to Millerton, New York, in 1985 with his family to work at Sharon Hospital as a Radiological Technologist, helping to operate the newly acquired diagnostic imaging machine (CT scan). He eventually became the Chief Technologist of the Radiology Department at Sharon Hospital and later worked at and retired from Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, New York. He retired in 2009, moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and then returned to the area almost four years ago, residing at Geer Lodge in Cannan, to be closer to his family.
John was an active golfer and golf enthusiast who also made custom golf clubs for people in the tri-state area. John was also an excellent cook and will be remembered fondly for his famous Italian cooking and cocktails. His hospitality and generosity were often evident around the dinner table and during many celebrations, where he and Mary would host and entertain with warmth and generosity of spirit. He loved motorcycles, watching golf, cooking shows, and movies. His passion for healthcare and helping people was integral to his profession and purpose. He was kind and generous with advice, support, and friendship.
A Celebration of John’s life will be held Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at Geer Lodge, Hollenbeck Room, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The North Cannan Volunteer Ambulance Corps at https://www.northcanaanems.org/donations or the Residents Association of Geer Gratuity Fund. Checks can be made out to the Geer Residents Gratuity Fund and mailed to: 77 South Canaan Road, Canaan, CT 06018.
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Manny Matsudaira, the youngest of the Matsudaira clan, was the 2025 valedictorian of Housatonic Valley Regional High School.
Patrick L. Sullivan
CORNWALL — “Matsudaira” can be translated from Japanese to mean “peaceful pine,” evoking a sense of enduring strength that reaches great heights.
The Matsudaira family of Cornwall has embodied this symbolism with a stream of six successful children.
Rachel Matsudaira, a current counselor at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, is the mother of six children who each attended the school. Her husband, Yoshihiro Matsudaira, died earlier this year before their youngest son graduated as HVRHS’s 2025 valedictorian.
The family resided in Japan for twelve years doing missionary work before receiving a grant to come back to the United States. They landed in Connecticut and began to thrive.
At HVRHS, each child placed in the top percentile of their classes and five of the six became either valedictorian or salutatorian.
While there were many factors that led to her children’s success, Matsudaira spoke of a few she felt were most important.
Firstly, the children were all raised close together as a family unit rather than as individuals, and looked to each other for inspiration and instruction. “The oldest one sets the pace, the tone, and they kind of all follow in suit,” Matsudaira explained. After her oldest son became valedictorian, the others also began to view that as a goal.
Many of their extracurricular activities were family oriented, such as every kid playing the same sports, which helped manage taking care of such a large family.
The family was raised to deeply value their Christian faith, reading the Bible daily and living by its scripture. One of their favorite verses is, “Do your best unto the Lord,” as it establishes a set of expectations for each child, not backed by just the parents’ wishes but by God himself.
Matsudaira also spoke of the multicultural influences on her strategy of raising her family. Not only did she live in Japan, she also met many other international Christians during her time there, allowing her children to experience a “third culture.” She was able to pick and choose strategies from the many cultures she encountered to raise her family the way she believed was best.
All having entered adulthood, the Matsudairas are now spread across the U.S. but still keep in close contact with each other.
Matthew, the eldest, lives in Florida, and works both as a consultant and as an independent oil painter.
Marina, the second oldest, attended Harvard University and tutors kids alongside her full-time job as a stay-at-home mom to three children of her own.
Manuella, or Ella, graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in architecture and is preparing for her architectural exams while, like her brother, oil painting.
Micah just received his degree from Springfield College and has moved to Boston, managing a gym and using his exercise science to manage sports facilities.
Melody is a rising junior at Davidson College, studying biology and tentatively interested in cancer research and treatment, or perhaps osteopathy.
The youngest, Manasseh, or Manny, is attending Harvard, potentially majoring in economics and environmental policy.
To those who are also raising children or considering it, Matsudaira advises thinking about the big questions. “There are so many things we think we value. I say this from experience that we don’t actually value it,” she said.
She also highlighted the importance of forming relationships with other people. It is the close relationships you have, such as the bonds between her family, that will support you in times of need.
“Make your relationships right, become the person that you’re going to value and that leads to a good legacy. You don’t have to be famous.”
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