On Monday, Dec. 5, Amy McDougall will begin her work as Harvard’s new town clerk, succeeding Janet Vellante, who served in the position for 22 years. McDougall will work with Vellante until the end of the week, when she officially retires. Town Administrator Tim Bragan said McDougall is looking forward to coming to Harvard and to meeting people. “She knows she is following a legend,” he added.
In coming to Harvard, McDougall will be leaving her current position as town clerk of Shirley.
She is a Certified Massachusetts Municipal Clerk (CMMC) and a member of the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association, which confers the title to professionals who have completed its certification program.
According to Bragan, out of seven or eight applicants for the position, the hiring committee chose three, the ones with the most experience, to recommend to the selectmen at their meeting on Nov. 4. One took another position and of the two remaining, Bragan said the selectmen would have been pleased with either, but McDougall was their preference.
“We are lucky to have someone with so much experience,” said Bragan, noting that McDougall has been Shirley’s town clerk for 11 years. He said she was looking for a change, and she saw Harvard as an opportunity for growth. It is also a good geographical fit, as she lives in Shirley with children.
Bragan said the committee was hoping to find someone with whom the public will enjoy working as much as they have with Vellante. Bragan smiled and said, “Amy is Janet with brown hair.” He described her as thoughtful in her responses, polite, and soft-spoken. She knows she has a challenge here and tough shoes to fill, but she’ll learn from Vellante and go on to make the job her own, he said. “She is a consummate professional,” he added.
