Long-time Clarkson town clerk to retire

Clarkson Town Clerk Fran Wilcox plans to retire at the end of the year. A 26-year veteran of the job, Wilcox says she has enjoyed getting to know residents. Since she was originally from the Hudson Falls area, the town post made it easy to get acquainted with the community. “The diversity of the job has been enjoyable,” Wilcox said. “I was able to help a lot of people with their problems.” Wilcox plans to travel, visit grandchildren and maybe take up golf in her retirement. Photograph by Walter Horylev.

Long-time Clarkson town clerk to retire

For more than 25 years, visitors to the Clarkson Town Hall have been greeted by the clerk, Fran Wilcox, but once December 29 rolls around, she will no longer be behind the counter.

"I figured, I am 64 and have been here for 26 years and it was time to retire," Wilcox said. "Life is too short and I really want to take some time to enjoy the rest of it. I don't have any big plans at this point."

When she started as the town clerk, there were 3,123 residents in the town and now Clarkson boasts 6,156 residents, according to the retiring clerk. "I think one of the biggest changes we went through while I was there was computerization. When I started nothing was computerized."

Wilcox is a wealth of knowledge for clerks from neighboring towns. "People will call and ask a question and because I've been around so long, I usually have the answer," she said with a laugh.

She will be around to help train the new clerk, Wilcox said, but the town is certain to feel a loss with the knowledge and skill that Wilcox has accumulated and shared with the community, the board and clerks from other municipalities. "Experience isn't really something that can be replaced," she said.

"Fran has been an invaluable part of our town government for 26 years," Supervisor Paul Kimball said. "Her knowledge, sense of humor and work ethic will be greatly missed."

While Wilcox said she will miss the daily interaction with the employees and the residents who come in, she said she won't miss taking the minutes of the board meetings. "That is one of the least favorite things that I do," she said.

Once the day-to-day routine changes and Wilcox's focus from taking care of town business to her own personal life, she plans to travel to Connecticut to see her daughter and she will also be traveling around Monroe County watching her granddaughter compete in high school sports. "I'm originally from the Adirondacks so I hope to take some time to travel there and visit my family," she said.

There were too many people for Wilcox to mention when it came to those she has enjoyed working with over the years, but she did say she has always worked and campaigned hard for the board because she knows first-hand the time and effort they put into the community interests. "I have worked with Paul (Town Supervisor Kimball) since I started. He started out as a councilman and two years later was elected supervisor. He has been outstanding to work with," she said.

Sharon Mattison, who is seeking the position of town clerk, said that, "Fran is probably one of the most well known and well respected persons in our town." She is unopposed.