Village Seeks Two to Replace Deputy Clerk

Montgomery Village President Marilyn Michelini is still reviewing applications for the position of village clerk. And now, the village has started looking for a new deputy clerk as well.

Helen Prester, who has been deputy clerk since October of 1998, plans to retire in June. Prester is acting village clerk, and has been since mid-March, stepping into the role after longtime clerk Barbara Argo resigned. She works full-time for the village, but splits her time between her clerk duties and her work in the finance department as a collector.

That’s why the village is looking to replace Prester with two part-time employees, and hire another on top, according to Debbie Buchanan, executive assistant to the village manager. Two of those employees would work 20 hours a week in the finance department, serving customers and collecting outstanding payments. These employees would make between $16.49 and $22.44 an hour.

The third would be a part-time deputy clerk, working 25 hours a week and making between $17.84 and $24.28 an hour. Listings for all three jobs are on the village website.

Prester’s retirement date is set for June 24, Buchanan said, and she will be there long enough to train her replacement.

As for the full-time clerk position, Michelini received 10 applications for the job, and plans to pick someone this month. One of those applicants is Trustee Robert Watermann, who lost his bid for re-election last Tuesday. Watermann served as clerk from 2004 to 2006, when Argo took a leave of absence.

It is the clerk’s job to take notes at all village meetings and type up the minutes, among other administrative duties.