BRANDON — A former banking professional has been has been appointed to the Brandon selectboard.
The board approved the appointment of Doug Bailey at a regular meeting Monday night, filling the seat vacated by Blaine Cliver, who retired from the board last month.
Bailey was one of four applicants for the position. The others were Dennis Reisenweaver, Jeff Stewart and Seth Hopkins.
The selectboard interviewed three of the four candidates at a specially warned executive session prior to the regular meeting Monday night, and announced their decision in open session following the interviews. Reisenweaver was not present for an interview.
Bailey, 63, spent 30 years as a banking executive with First Vermont Bank and TD Bank North. He was a member of the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce for 10 years and served as the chamber’s executive director for two years. He also represented Brandon on the Otter Valley School Board for six years, and was chair of the state’s Jobs for Vermont Graduates Committee in the early 1990s that helped high school students who weren’t college-bound find the post-secondary job training.
Bailey lives with his wife, Dawn, on Old Basin Road in Brandon.
Selectman Dave Atherton said Monday night that Bailey was well qualified for the job, given the town budget challenges over the last two years
“He will bring experience in banking and finance, and we believe he will be an asset to the board,” Atherton said.
Selectman Devon Fuller thanked the other candidates for their interest, and Selectman Ethan Swift said it was a well-qualified pool of candidates.
“It was not an easy decision to make, by any means,” Swift said. “Each candidate possessed special skills that would have benefitted the selectboard in special ways, and we want to thank them for throwing their hats into the ring.”