Griffin is county’s new chief clerk
For the second time this year, the chief clerkship of Washington County changed hands.
County Commission Chairman Larry Maggi introduced Cynthia Griffin before last week’s meeting of Washington County Salary Board. Griffin, through Tuesday of that week, was Washington city clerk, a position she held since Jan. 15.
Before that, Griffin, 51, a city resident, was executive secretary to Washington County Health Center administrator for 20-plus years, retiring five and a half years ago. Her husband, Robert, is director of economic development for Washington County Redevelopment Authority.
By a 3-0 vote, the salary board created a position of temporary deputy chief clerk with compensation of $30 per hour. Commission Vice Chairman Diana Irey Vaughan was absent. County Controller Michael Namie also serves on the board along with the commissioners.
Mary Helicke, who worked as chief clerk from 2004 through January of this year, said after the vote she’ll be filling the temporary position, which began immediately and lasts through Sept. 16.
It’s the second time this year that Helicke has had the temporary deputy’s position since she announced her retirement. She remained on the job to show the ropes to Irene M. Reese, formerly an analyst in the county finance department, who resigned from the $50,000-per-year chief clerk’s post, effective Aug. 19.
The chief clerk’s position includes duties in handling open records requests under the state’s Right-to-Know Act; serving as liaison between the board of commissioners and elected officials, directors and department managers; preparing agendas and advertising public meetings, resolutions, general correspondence and maintaining a central filing system; reviewing county fiscal operations; attesting to documents and assuring that policies, legal contracts, agreements, leases, grant applications, ordinances and regulations approved by the board of commissioners are carried out.
Replacing Griffin as city clerk is Michelle Sperl of Washington, who was previously employed by Washington School District. Mayor Scott Putnam and council authorized Sperl’s hiring last week in a memorandum of understanding and they plan to make it official at the city’s next council meeting, according to Suan Koehler, deputy finance officer.