Canaan/Falls Village Board of Selectmen
8/10/26, 6 p.m.
Present: First Selectman David Barger, Selectmen Christopher Kinsella, Judy Jacobs.
Among business conducted by the Board of Selectmen (BOS) at this session, the Canaan/Falls
Village Cemetery Sexton Tracey Wilson presented her resignation, and it was unanimously accepted.
The former sexton had said in an email dated July 20 that she decided to “step away due to recent events that have led [her] to reevaluate [her] willingness to serve this community.”
First Selectman Dave Barger responded in an email on July 29 that Wilson’s tenure as the Cemetery
Sexton included securing grants for improvements in Town cemeteries, introducing “green burials,”and updating records.
“On behalf of the Board of Selectmen, I want to thank you for your efforts and your invaluable work,” Barger wrote.
Wilson’s resignation Aug. 10 came after a July 9 incident detailed by the former Sexton in a July 10 letter to the BOS, which Barger read aloud at the July 13 BOS meeting. Wilson complained to the Selectmen that she had not been assisted in a timely manner when she went to the Town Hall to conduct Sexton business. Wilson said she was treated disrespectfully by Town staff, and she criticized the work performance of Town Clerk Johanna Mann.
At this BOS meeting during public comments, Mann responded. She said she was a victim of verbal abuse from Wilson during a July 8 incident. That day, Mann claimed, Wilson also made an obscene gesture toward her.
“I was verbally abused by Mrs. Wilson including vulgar language, right outside the Town Hall. I immediately reported this to [First Selectman] Dave Barger and put it in writing, as he requested,” Mann said.
The day after the alleged verbal attack, Mann said, Wilson came into the Town Hall and complained to the Selectmen that she had not been assisted in a timely manner when she came to the Town Hall to conduct Sexton business.
“I was not notified of this complaint by the Board of Selectmen until after it was read at a public meeting held on July 13th,” Mann said.
Wilson wrote in her July 10 letter that the purpose of her visit was to submit a required state
Sexton report, which requires the Town Clerk’s signature. She added that despite waiting respectfully for someone to tend to her request, she was ignored. The Town Treasurer, Wilson said, noticed she had been waiting and stepped in to help.
“Professionalism, respect, and timely communication are essential in local government,” Wilson wrote. “Being disregarded while attempting to carry out state-required Sexton duties is unacceptable.” In her letter to the BOS, Wilson requested that the incident be reviewed.
Mann said she “immediately responded with the facts” when asked about the incident. “The wait time from [her] entering the building to receiving assistance was 22 seconds, per the town video cameras,” Mann said. She added that Barger assured her multiple times the matter is being investigated.
“But I have not been told what is being investigated.,” Mann said. “The video camera footage is available to the Selectmen to review — have you reviewed it? I would like to know what is being investigated and who is paying for this investigation.”
Concerned residents, Mann claims, have approached her while at work and in the community with concerns about how Wilson’s complaint and Mann’s claims of verbal abuse have been handled.
“When is this attack going to stop?” Mann said.
In other business, Barger gave details in his report regarding upgrades at the Senior Center funded by Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grants. He said requests for bids are underway, and the Town is seeking a grant for floor replacement.
Barger also reported a $64,000 compactor was awarded to Atlantic Recycling via a STEAP grant, and designs are being revised for the Town Farm Pavilion that will be supported by a STEAP grant.
The meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m.
Special meeting. 8/17/26, 12:01 p.m
Selectmen accepted $561,000 from the Transportation Rural Improvement Program (TRIP) for the Cobble Road bridge and culvert over Wangum Lake Brook. On a motion by Kinsella and a second by Jacobs, the BOS unanimously agreed that Barger should sign the acceptance letter on its behalf.
The BOS also unanimously approved a $4,789 appropriation request made by the Canaan/Falls Village Board of Education for the Lee H. Kellogg School for equipment. The request was initially believed by the board to be $4 million due to a clerical error, according to Barger. Jacobs moved for approval, and Kinsella seconded the motion.
Selectmen set a Town Meeting to start at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 2. Barger moved to set the time and date, Jacobs offered the second, and a unanimous vote followed.
The meeting adjourned at 12:14 p.m.
