Gardner search committee interviews candidate for city clerk

On June 8, 2026 the Gardner Special Search Committee for City Clerk interviewed a candidate identified only as Jen to evaluate her suitability to fill a forthcoming vacancy. The committee emphasized the clerk's role as keeper of official records, chief election official and the council's clerk, and said it will forward a recommendation to the full City Council, which will hold a vote at a later date.

Jen told the committee she is motivated by public service and local ties, saying she lives in Gardner and that "it's very important to me how this city moves forward" as her children grow up in the community. She described a decade of service on the local school committee and work on charter and school building committees as relevant experience.

On operational questions, Jen said she currently manages "a 40 to 50 case load through the juvenile court," and has developed personal systems of lists, calendars and reminders to meet legal deadlines. "I've developed my own system on how to keep track of those things and I would do similar as I entered the role of city clerk," she said, adding she would adapt office systems to ensure ordinances, minutes and legal documents are completed on time.

When asked about public records and open meeting obligations, Jen cited prior work posting and handling some records while vice chair of the school committee and daily experience handling sensitive, closed juvenile court records. She said she would rely on checklists, timelines and legal guidance to ensure compliance with Massachusetts requirements.

Committee members stressed attention to detail, accuracy in minutes and packet preparation, and the clerk office's role as the council's front line. Council President George Tyros told the candidate he was looking for "someone who has the attention to detail to make sure that...the packet is together," and other councilors described the clerk as a customer-service position that often serves as the first contact for people visiting city hall.

Jen answered questions about staff supervision and elections preparedness by saying she leads "with respect," sets high expectations and would train staff on legally required election procedures. On changing entrenched processes, she described revamping the school committee's meeting calendar to reduce last-minute work, using records of past problems to persuade colleagues to adopt a new approach.

The committee closed the interview by thanking Jen and saying HR will follow up for references and next steps. The panel reiterated that it will make a formal recommendation to the full City Council, which will later vote to fill the city clerk vacancy.