To the Editor:

It is an honor and privilege to serve as your town clerk, and I perform my job duties with great pride and take my position very seriously. Over the last 12 years (four years as town clerk, and eight years as deputy town clerk), I have attended many conferences, seminars, and training sessions to stay current on the strict laws, rules, and regulations to which all town clerks must adhere.

I am a member of the New York State Town Clerks’ Association, and member and secretary to the Albany/Schenectady Town Clerks’ Association.  The town-clerk position entails a tremendous amount of responsibility; staying current through education is a key factor in serving the residents of the town of Berne.

It has come to my attention that there has been some misinformation circulating regarding the town clerk’s hours and job duties, and I would like to take this opportunity to clarify.

The hours for the town clerk have been set at 30 hours per week for many years. Along with my regular daily hours, I also make appointments to meet with residents in the evening at their convenience.  I am on call with funeral directors to accommodate their strict timelines.

For people who are not able to come to my office, I meet with them at their homes. I am the only local town clerk that has regular Saturday hours (Knox and Rensselaerville have them once a month) and, even though the office is closed for some Saturdays in the summer, I still remain available to schedule appointments to meet the needs of residents.

As your town clerk, I am here to help you with whatever needs or questions may arise, and have fully enjoyed meeting so many of you throughout the years. Please do not hesitate to contact me whenever I can be of assistance, or please stop by just to say hello.

Anita C. Clayton

Berne Town Clerk

Editor’s note: Anita C. Clayton is running for re-election in November.