by Alex Brooks
Petersburgh Town Clerk Barbara Snyder will not be running for another term as Town Clerk after a 28 year tenure. Snyder was first elected in 1982, when Agnes Smith was Town Supervisor. She has served under five Supervisors since then. Snyder will continue as Court Clerk. This is an appointed position, and the Justices have indicated they would like her to continue in that capacity.
Callie Crisp is running unopposed to succeed Snyder. Barb says it was her daughter Holli who suggested Crisp, and Crisp was very enthusiastic about taking on the job. Snyder said, “Everybody seems to like her.”
Before becoming Town Clerk, Snyder was a full time wife and mother, so this job has been her entire professional career. “I’ve enjoyed it,” said Snyder. “I’ve been happy to be able to work near home.” She said her relations with the public have mostly been very cordial, fun and friendly. The only things that have roiled the waters during her tenure were the garbage wars and occasional crises with the Water District. But even when people get aggravated with each other and have sharp disagreements, she has found that a few years later they’re laughing about it.
Snyder said she is looking forward to having some more free time. She’d like to fix up her house a bit, paint some rooms and work in the flower beds and spend more time with her husband Keith.
Keith has had some health problems recently, which was one of the reasons Snyder felt it was time to retire. Keith has been retired for some time now and is looking forward to having Barb home with him more. She said they may do a little traveling if they can.