ESSEX — For the first time, town officials have begun a search to hire a new town clerk.
Over the past 62 years, the town of Essex has had only two town clerks: Ernest Lord and his daughter Sally Soucy, who will retire in May after serving the town for 33 years.
In the past, it was up to town voters to determine who held the position. But, as of last May, it is now the selectmen's job to find and appoint a person to the job.
At the annual election, residents voted 154-64 to change the town clerk's position from an elected post to an appointed one, allowing selectmen to hire a town clerk for a three-year term.
Selectmen are now accepting applications to fill the post, with all due by Jan. 21 by 3:30 p.m. in the selectmen's office. It is expected to be a 32-hour-a-week position, with the salary range pegged at between $43,000 to $53,000, based on experience.
Primary responsibilities include planning all functions of the clerk's office, including those related to legislation, elections, public records, voter registration, census issues and departmental operations.
An associate's degree in public administration, government, business or three to five years of related experience is also required.
Selectmen have said an appointed post will allow them to bring in the best candidates with the skills needed for the position.
Soucy, who learned how to be a town clerk from her father and adapted with changing technology met with selectmen before they proposed the change — and she agreed it would best for the town.
All the applications will be screened by the Town Clerk Search Committee which was formed last June. The committee will also do preliminary interviews and will present at least three candidates to the selectmen, according to Town Administrator Brendhan Zubricki.
The time line for the presentation of candidates and the start date for the newly appointed town clerk is still in the works. However, it is expected to come before Soucy retires in May because the town voted at the special Town Meeting in November to add $20,000 to the town clerk's salary to allow the newly appointed clerk to work alongside Soucy.
Soucy has officially held the position for 33 years — and "unofficially" for more like 63. Her father was elected as town clerk in 1947, and while her mother, Grace, was the official clerk's assistant, Soucy, then 7, was the "unofficial assistant."
Jonathan Phelps can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3446, or via e-mail at gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com
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