Clerk's Retirement Marks End of an Era in Howell

When Howell Township Clerk Bruce Davis was honored with a proclamation at last week's council meeting for his retirement, it was read by Mayor Robert Walsh, the 16th person to hold the gavel in his 32-year career in the township. 

The proclamation said Davis has "set an exemplary precedent as to how the Clerk's position should be maintained and has done so with dedication and determination." It added that he "has served as a mentor and teacher to all his staff and has indelibly left his mark with every worker on how to reach their highest potential."

For Davis, who has spent the past three decades sitting just off to the side of the dais, being in front of the audience that included friends and former colleagues was a new experience. "It's humbling yet again to get to hear all these accolades," he said. "I'm going to miss my staff, I'm going to miss my deputy clerk, but I feel that the clerk's office is left in very good hands, and the staff will continue to perform as exemplary as they have all these years."

After the presentation, Davis said he is looking forward to seeing what comes next. "I think I'm so accustomed to you get up at a certain hour, you get up, you do your routine, you go to the office and whatever hits you during the day is what you deal with," he sad. "Am I going to miss that? Probably initially but I'll get over it."

Honored For His Service

It was clear as they stood in front of the meeting room that Walsh and Davis have built a strong bond and friendship during their seven years working together. Walsh said that since he came on the council Davis has proved to be an invaluable resource. "There is so much of a learning curve that most people really know so little about because it never comes into your everyday life or things you've studied before," Walsh said. 

During that time Walsh said he would spend a few days a week in Davis' office learning about the job and the town and what he could do to help the citizens. Even more than his professional help, the mayor said Davis proved to be a good person all around. "Not only do I have a lot of respect for him as a clerk and for all the things he has done for the township, but he's a good friend and a gentleman," he said. "I really enjoyed getting to know him and be around him. He's not just been a help to me as a citizen, he's been a friend."

The mayor was not the only member of the council to speak highly of Davis. Deputy Mayor William Gotto said he too has come to rely on Davis' experience. "He's been a source of information and motivation for me since I've been involved long before council," he said. He's someone that I had seen from afar and admired the way he jumped in and served various roles and capacities. He's a rare breed that solely looked out for Howell, and I'm going to miss that."

Of all the members of the council, Councilwoman Pauline Smith has known and worked with Davis the longest. Smith said his presence will be missed by her and other people in the town. "He's such a sweetheart," she said. "Our relationship goes back a lot of years. He's always good to work with and he's a friend. I don't know what we're going to do without him."

One of the people Davis has worked closest with over the years is Judy Kloniecki, who serves as both the Township registrar and administrative assistant. After 18 years, Kloniecki said she will miss her soon to be former boss. "Bruce Davis is probably one of the nicest, kindest men but besides that a boss of absolute distinction," she said. "I will miss him dearly."

He may be leaving his job, but Sharon, his wife of 32 years, said there will not be a lot of time to relax in retirement. With plans to move to a warmer climate, Sharon Davis said they will likely be doing a considerable amount of traveling, but added she is ready to have her husband around on a regular basis. 

Even during the busiest times in his career she said her husband left his work at town hall. "He doesn't like to talk about work. He said everyone's entitled to their privacy and he took everything seriously." 

That changed from time to time when she said he would get phone calls at all hours of the night, but was always ready to help when he could. "He always would get the right person to do whatever needed to be done and get it fixed quick," she said. 

Moving Forward

Davis' replacement is a very familiar face. On Thursday morning Deputy Clerk Penny Wollman will complete a 30-year progression from high school student working in the copy room to municipal clerk. 

Davis said his intention was to be able to walk out of the office on the last day knowing that it would be business as usual the next. "I vacate the chair, she slides in, you never know anybody left," he said.

Kloniecki said she is looking forward to working with her new boss. "Penny will be absolutely wonderful," she said. "Penny and I are very good friends, but I respect her in her new position."

Gotto said the fact that the township can have such a seamless transition says a lot about the people that work for the residents. "How many municipalities within 100 miles of Howell can say that their replacement for Township Clerk has 30 years of experience in the same departments," he said. "We're very blessed to have Penny. We were blessed to have Penny under Bruce's tutelage. It's just another big plus for our town."

And while Wollman has taken the good-natured ribbing from Walsh as he sits at the dais during meetings, the mayor said he looks forward to working with her but will miss his friend. "I don't think we'll really miss a beat except we'll miss his personality and his demeanor," he said. 

Wollman's first official meeting as township clerk will be on Dec. 13.