Proactive town clerk earns master certification
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — After more than three years of work, Putnam Town Clerk Christine Bright earned her Master Connecticut Town Clerk Certification.
It is an advanced professional designation awarded by the CT Town Clerk’s Association. It recognizes high level expertise, education and service in municipal administration.
Bright said it took more than 100 hours to earn the education points and the professional development points, she said. There were seminars, webinars, conferences and training that covered all facets of a town clerk’s job.
Bright is the vice president of the Windham County Town Clerks organization and is on various boards with the state organization. She is also the Department of Public Health liaison.
Because “people just don’t know what we town clerks do,” Bright is helping spearhead efforts to bring attention to the office of the town clerk. The town clerk tends to be the “go-to person for questions.”
Town Clerks safeguard every official record from birth to death, plus maps, plus meeting minutes, land records, meeting notices. Plus voting, plus permits for vendors, raffles, plus dog licenses and much more.
The group is also brainstorming ideas for town clerks to connect with their communities with projects and presentations. For example, this year was the second year of the “I Voted” sticker design contest with local schools. Two winning designs were chosen and turned into the “I Voted” stickers that voters receive after they’ve voted.
Bright has been Putnam’s town clerk for the last three and one-half years. Before that she was the town clerk in Scotland for five years.
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