Perth Amboy Municipal Clerks: Raquel Roche, Elaine Jasko, Theresa Lopez *Photo by Paul W. Wang

Municipal Clerks Week

Perth Amboy Assistant City Clerk Victoria Ann Kupsch

South Amboy City Clerk
Laura Kemble-Kalantsis
*File photo

On the April 25, 2018 Perth Amboy Council Meeting Agenda, Resolution R-165-4/18 recognized May 6, 2018 thru May 12, 2018 as Municipal Clerks Week.

We would like to take this opportunity to recognize the professionalism of the Clerks and their staff in Perth Amboy and South Amboy.

There are times at meetings when the Council, Administrators, and Department Heads are verbally attacked. In some cases, I have heard insults directed at the Municipal Clerks. I personally don’t know how this one particular clerk can keep her cool and not answer back. That is a true professional. I’ve even remarked to that person: “You’ll go straight to heaven for your restraint.” Fortunately, she’s served at least 3 mayors and knows what goes with the territory and is able to shrug it off.

So, just remember: The City Clerks and their staff have a lot of duties they perform that the general public has no inklings of. It’s just the tip of the iceberg; it’s just a small portion of what you see. The killer this year was when Perth Amboy had a marathon of Budget Hearings. The last Budget Hearings consisted of 5 different departments. That was a doozy. My head was spinning, so I can just imagine what the City Clerk and for that fact, the CFO went through. This would be a big argument for combat pay.

So again, we thank the City Clerks and maybe they should be recognized for a month instead of a week. C.M.