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| Town Clerk Sylvia LaChance |
LaChance first took office on January 1, 2000, following the storied legacy of long time former clerk Mary "Mitzi" Stout. LaChance has held the position for twenty years and during that time, she served with six different town supervisor's.
A former administrator in local doctor's offices, she was approached to run for the job in 1999, when a veteran local lawmaker told her it would "be a piece of cake."
After winning the election, LaChance even used that phrase as the title of a speech she had to give while attending a Certified Municipal Clerk training session.
Accomplishments
During a twenty year run, elected officials are likely to have some wins and losses. For LaChance, she said he greatest achievement was obtaining a $650,000 grant to restore Wellsville's Island Park. LaChance wrote the grant to boost the park, with help from then-council member Barb Graves. That grant provided new life to Island Park, which included restoration of pavilions, new restrooms and a paved walking path around the park. She said after the work was completed, "use of the park increased dramatically." LaChance also pushed for new technology in the town office's which included computerization. She has never had a 'bad' state audit.
On a more deep and personal level, she said her achievements included helping the town steer through the state mandated 2% property tax cap as well as helping with two new water districts in the town.
Training
LaChance said there wasn't a ton of pre-employment training, but once on the job, she took full advantage of continuing education. The Clerk said she participated in training offered at Houghton College, the state Association of Towns events-often in New York City- as well as the state Town Clerks Association. She called those opportunities invaluable, because she was able to interact with colleagues across the state - which gave her new ideas. She said "I was able to connect with other officials and peers."
Hunting/Fishing Season
As town clerk, LaChance was one of the outlets to obtain licenses. She smiled as she fondly recalled the out of town visitors who graced the office in search of needed licenses. LaChance noted that with the impending closure of Kmart, her office will be open on the Saturday of this years Lions Club Trout Derby- so people can obtain last minute licenses. The office that day will be open from 7 a.m. until noon.
Smiles
Among the many things LaChance will miss is the fellowship she experienced with her co-workers and members of the public.
Advice?
LaChance said the next clerk needs to smile...roll with it...and be good to the people. She candidly admitted that she never had an "I quit" moment; "It's been a great job," she said.
What's next?
For LaChance, the next move is retirement, plain and simple. "I quilt, a lot," she said. She added that she wishes the next clerk the very best of luck.
Classic ending
As the interview was wrapping up, LaChance was spared any further questions...by the simple act of the telephone ringing. It was a call she has received countless times over two decades. The caller needed a birth certificate (the birth occurred at Jones Memorial Hospital-in the village). She politely said, as she has said so many times before, "you'll need to call the village clerk, the number is..."
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Hectic Wellsville Election Cycle
Some elections are predictable...some aren't. It's clear that voters in the town of Wellsville will select a new town clerk in November. Dean Arnold is the Wellsville GOP chair and he tells us one person is currently circulating petitions for the clerk's job. But wait...there is more -
Also up for election in November:
-Town Clerk
-Tax Collector
-Highway Superintendent
-Town Supervisor
-Two Council seats
