#MiddleburyCT #Lawsuit #FranBarton #TownOfMiddlebury #Registrar
Judge Eric J. Eggan of Waterbury Small Claims Court on Friday, October 30, 2026, heard the claim Middlebury’s former Democratic Registrar of Voters Fran Barton filed against the Town of Middlebury. Later that day, he issued an order dismissing the case.
On July 9, 2026, Barton filed a claim for $992 plus interest to collect hourly wages he said were due him for election day work. As an elected official, Barton was paid an annual stipend for his work as registrar. Barton resigned from his elected position effective October 1, 2026.
In his October 30 order, Judge Eggan expressed sympathy for Barton’s claim but said he agreed with all the points the Town raised in a memorandum it filed with the court in support of defendant’s motion to dismiss. Eggan said, “Those points, individually, and collectively overwhelmingly support dismissal. ”
The order stated Barton’s compensation as a public official set by the board of selectmen is an annual stipend and does not include extra pay for election day duties. It noted Barton had been paid extra compensation for election day work under a different board of selectmen but the current board is under no obligation to continue that practice.
It said the current board determined it isn’t in the town’s interest to provide compensation over and above the stipend and “the court has no authority, and no desire, to intrude on the board’s prerogative regarding compensation.” Should Barton or others desire additional compensation for future elections, the order said they should pursue the issue through the board process.
The newspaper reached out to Barton and left a voicemail message requesting his comment for this article. He has not yet responded to that request.
