HCR 225

R-272  Page 1 of 1
2026
No. R-272. House concurrent resolution honoring East Haven Selectboard Chair
Kirwin Flanders for his extraordinary municipal public service career.
                                         (H.C.R.225)
   Offered by Representative Kascenska of Burke
   Whereas, the dedication of Kirwin Flanders to serving his fellow citizens in the Essex
County municipality of East Haven is unique, not only in his own community, but across
the State of Vermont, and
   Whereas, as a young adult, Kirwin Flanders appreciated the importance of civic
participation, and his neighbors, in turn, identified him as a promising future leader in
East Haven, and
    Whereas, his odyssey of municipal leadership commenced in 1974, when the members
of the East Haven Selectboard chose Kirwin Flanders to fill a one-year vacancy on their
critical town governance panel, and
   Whereas, on Town Meeting Day in 1975, Kirwin Flanders stood for election as an
East Haven Selectboard candidate for a full term, and the voters of East Haven concurred
that he had performed his municipal legislative duties commendably during the one-year
interim appointment, and they elected him every three years for a total of 51 years, and
   Whereas, at the first convening of the East Haven Selectboard, following the 1975
Town Meeting Day election, it elected Kirwin Flanders to serve as chair, and his
competence, dedication, and prudent judgment have sustained his leadership in this
position for an amazing 51 years (1975–2026), a record tenure in this role in the Town of
East Haven, and certainly among the longest in the history of Vermont municipal
government, and
   Whereas, the Town of East Haven benefits from his work in other ways as the East
Haven representative to the Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District, and in an
administrative capacity as the manager of the town’s Aqua Haven community water
system, and
   Whereas, the incredible saga and enduring contributions of Kirwin Flanders on the
East Haven Selectboard, as a 52-year member and its chair for 51 years, are now
concluding, and to commemorate this significant moment in the town’s history, and as a
way to congratulate and thank Kirwin Flanders for a job well done, a potluck luncheon is
being held in his honor, today, Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the East Haven Community
Building, now therefore be it
   Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
   That the General Assembly honors East Haven Selectboard Chair Kirwin Flanders for
his extraordinary municipal public service career, and be it further
   Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
Kirwin Flanders.
                                                                              VT LEG #388382 v.1