Long-Time Village Clerk Ready to Retire
Long-Time Village Clerk Ready to Retire
Mary Klahn, Village Clerk and Treasurer Ready for a Well Deserved Retirement
Photo / Carol Fisher Linn for ellicottvilleNOW
As humans, we often take things for granted. If we have a problem with our tax bill, a broken sidewalk, garbage in the street or wish to see the head honcho in an organization, we generally present ourselves and our dilemma to the village/town clerk. We usually walk out with our problem solved, a clearer pathway towards a solution or the appointment we seek to speak to someone in charge of rectifying the situation that is our concern. Regardless of the nature of the need, it is very often one person at the counter who must have all the answers or possible solutions. Rather than going to Google for information, the people in the village of Ellicottville automatically go to Mary Klahn, our Village Clerk/Treasurer. “Mary will know the answer.” “Mary can solve this.” “Mary will get me in to see the Mayor.” “Talk to Mary, she’ll figure this out.”
The job of the clerk is both high and low profile. Mary keeps things organized, despite her current supervisor, John Burrell’s self-proclaimed tendency to work from piles on his desk. She is a major multi-tasker, answering the phone simultaneously while filing or graciously greeting a visitor at the counter. In a conversation with Mayor Burrell, he admiringly used words describing Mary such as “meticulous,” “neat freak,” “a place for everything, and everything in its place.” His biggest praise was for her ability to keep him on track, to remind him of appointments and obligations and for providing ways for him to fulfill them. He admitted readily that it is no easy task.
“Her communication skills are phenomenal no matter what situation she finds herself in,” claimed Burrell. She represents the mayor and the village of Ellicottville with grace and self-assurance. A team player, she offers support with a strong work ethic and service-based attitude. On top of her exceptional people skills, Mary excels at the mundane, like taking and transcribing minutes at meetings and processing payments and billings. A ‘Jane of all Trades’ and a self-starter, Mary is pro-active and can always be counted on to get things done in a timely and correct manner, with great attention to detail. Our suspicion is that she is also in charge of keeping the office surroundings bright and welcoming, including making the coffee.
Sad for Ellicottville and wonderful for Mary and her family, she is retiring mid-March after 18 years (10 years with Charlie Coolidge, 8 with John Burrell), serving as the steadying rudder for the ship called the village of Ellicottville. If it sounds like it would take more than one person to fill her always-stylish shoes, the assumption is correct. She is presently training her replacement, Amy Hayward, and introducing her to office visitors and the community. In speaking with Mayor Burrell, a part-time Deputy Clerk is also being sought to take over some of the responsibilities Mary so ably fulfilled. If you are interested in that position, please contact the mayor’s office to inquire at 716-699-4636).
In speaking with Mary, I was reminded why she was so adept at handling so many things at one time. She is in the middle of the pack of 10 children of Jane and Leslie Dunkleman. One learns how to navigate things quickly to get a share of the pie and parent’s time. Fun to talk with, Mary always seems to see the humor or goodness in a story. Asked how she came to work at the village, she said she thought she saw an ad in the paper for a job in the office. Inquiring, she was told no, there was no ad, yet several weeks later, Mayor Charlie Coolidge placed an ad for a part-time Deputy Clerk, to which she responded. The rest is history. Her words, “I somehow created the job. Charlie gave me a gift.” Six months later, when Kate Stokes retired, she had the job full-time, 18 years ago.
Asked about funny stories, Mary says she could write a book. One in particular she shared was the time someone brought a box into the office and left it. She thought it was something for Charlie, opened it and out popped a very frightened stray kitten which immediately jumped off the counter and under the heating system in the office. She had to get someone in to tear the system apart to get the kitty out. Her laughter fills the room. It is a joy to speak with her and hear her stories. She will be missed, as she will also miss the people. “This is a very busy place. I have truly enjoyed being here.”
Mary plans to spend more time with her husband, Reggie, and her children and four grandchildren. As an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary (she says “since birth… we were taken along with mom”), Mary also plans to continue spearheading the Hometown Heroes program through the American Legion, placing flags honoring our local Veterans around town. She credits Cybil Scharf for suggesting it. “This year, four more flags are going up, bringing our numbers to forty,” she said with delight. She enjoyed participating in the Boot Drive for the Red Cross but won’t miss standing out in the bitter cold. Another public service handled by the Village, which ended up on her To-Do list, was the Bench program, with the Village bearing responsibility for placing the plaques and locating, maintaining, and storing the benches. Amy will know how you can order yours if you are interested.
Hail and farewell, Mary Klahn. You leave behind a BIG pair of very fashionable shoes to fill. We at ellicottvilleNOW and the entire Ellicottville community wish you Godspeed and a fun, exciting new chapter with many years ahead enjoying the things you like to do, doing it with all the people you love and enjoy. Time for new business cards: Retired… ask someone else.