Description:
The Office of the Town Clerk is historicaol in its traditions, having served as a direct link between the residents and their local governments since Biblical times.....Acts, Chapter 19, Verse 35 " ....and when the Town Clerk had appeased the people..."
While Town Clerks are generally credited with issuing licenses, that is only a small part of this complex job. Many duties are mandated by law, but many more go well beyond those mandates as Town Clerks serve as a major source of information to all.
A Town Clerk is a:
Public Relations Officer, generally considered the center of local government, this office conveys a lasting impression of the community to all who enter.
Recording Secretary, Authors minute books, the only official record of the activities of Town government. The resulting volumes are retained permanently for legal and historic purposes.
Records Management Officer, Custodian of all Town records, responsible for active files, storage and disposition of inactive records and the careful maintenance of archival material. She is also administrator of the Freedom of Information Law which guarantees your right to know the workings of government.
Filing Officer, maintaining records of adopted Town Ordinances, and Local Laws, Town Oaths of Office, resignations, petitions, proof of publications, annual budgets, assessment rolls, fiscal reports, notices of lien, subpoena and court actions, bonds/notes registers, zoning ordinances and maps.
Also maintains public signboard, advertises and receives bids for purchase of town materials, files burial permits from cemeteries located within the town.
Licensing Officer, Issues State licenses/permits, including marriage, conservation (hunting and fishing), going out of business, games of chance, bingo and handicapped parking.
Issues Town licenses/permits mandated by Local Law (e.g. dog licenses, junk dealers, town park rental, etc.
Cash Control Officer, responsible for numerous duties relating to billing, and the collection and disbursement of funds. all incoming cash is recorded and disbursed to State, County and local fiscal officers. The Town Clerk also contributes to town and departmental budget preparation, management of petty cash, general purchasing, and assisting with State and internal audits.
Registrar of Vital Statistics, usually appointed keeper of all birth and death records within a community, issuing birth and death certificates, burial permits, as well as conducting genealogical searches.