BCAT News

The long-serving local public servant Paul Raymond will be honored with a commemorative park bench outside the Town Hall Annex after Select Board approval Monday night. 

Raymond retired in 2022 after serving 50 years in various capacities, including on the Planning Board, Recreation Commission, and Town Meeting. 

“It’s fantastic that we’re going to acknowledge all of his efforts,” said Select Board Member Jim Tigges. “If you look at where Burlington is today, it’s because of people like Paul Raymond, who spent 50 years fine-tuning it.”

“It’s definitely well-deserved recognition,” said Member Sarah Cawley. “This is someone I personally look up to,I met him last year when I was campaigning, it was great to chat with him, and it’s well deserved.”

The bench was approved unanimously, and all five Select Board members had positive things to say about Raymond and his service to the community. But some members raised concerns about an overabundance of commemorative benches around the Town Center. 

“We have a lot of benches, and that’s a testament to the number of people who have given to the community. But I think we’re getting to the point where we have more benches than we have rear ends,” said Member Nick Priest. 

“Anybody who does 50 years of service deserves a bench,” said Select Board Chair Joe Morandi. “I’m in favor of it, but I think we need to have some criteria.”

The board suggested it would consider at a later strategic planning session some criteria for deciding who could be given a commemorative bench  or commemorated in other ways on the Common and in other parts of Town Center and on town property.