Sharon considers switch to appointed town clerk

Sharon considers switch to appointed town clerk

Sharon Town Hall is located on Main Street.

Leila Hawken

SHARON — The Board of Selectmen hosted an informational meeting with the public on Monday, June 24 to discuss a proposed ordinance that would change the town clerk position from an elected role to one appointed by the BOS.

As per an announcement on the town website, the switch is meant to allow the field of applicants to extend beyond Sharon residents, as well as attract candidates who may not wish to participate in the election process. The public notice said the move would protect the clerk’s job security, as there is no limit on repeating terms so long as the position’s requirements and standards are satisfactorily met.

First Selectman Casey Flanagan reported public feedback on the topic was constructive. “The overall sentiment from the room was supportive of the idea to make the transition from elected to appointed,” he said.

One specific comment that may affect the final language of the ordinance suggested the concept of a “hiring committee” be broadened from just the heads of the Democratic and Republican Town Committees to allow the BOS to consult with others during the hiring process who may be familiar with the role, such as the registrars and current town clerk.

Current Town Clerk Linda Amerighi said June 30 that some questions have arisen since the informational meeting, and she emphasized that she is available to discuss the topic with any Sharon voter but not during business hours. “I want to be sure that before any decisions are made that people have an opportunity to understand what this means for Sharon,” Amerighi said.

The BOS is in the process of incorporating the public’s input into its final proposal ordinance that will be sent to town meeting for a vote. A date for the town meeting has yet to be announced.

Latest News

Gilbert Kenneth Schoonmaker

WINSTED — Gilbert Kenneth Schoonmaker, of Monroe, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2025, at the age of 77. Born on Jan. 18, 1948, in Winsted, Connecticut to Gilbert and Alta (Bierce) Schoonmaker, Gil spent four decades enjoying life on Highland Lake before settling in Monroe.

He is lovingly survived by his wife of 56 years, Sally (Gustafson) Schoonmaker, and his two daughters, Lynn Sindland and her husband Lee of Lead Hill, Arkansas, and Deb Pikiell and her husband Tim of Bristol, Connecticut. Gil was a proud grandfather to Ozzie, Tommy, Betsy, Katie, George, Lucy, Maddie, Joey, and Julia, and he cherished his time with his eight great-grandchildren. Gilbert leaves behind his siblings Ann, Gary, Gail, Jan, and Tim.

Keep ReadingShow less
Books and bites beckon at the upcoming Sharon Summer Book Signing

Author and cartoonist Peter Steiner signed books at Sharon Summer Book Signing last summer.

Photo by Stephanie Stanton

The 27th annual Sharon Summer Book Signing at the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon will be held Friday, Aug. 1, from 4:45 to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 3, at noon.

Friday’s festivities will honor libraries and the power of the written word. In attendance will be 29 locally and nationally recognized authors whose books will be for sale. With a wide array of genres including historical fiction, satire, thrillers, young adult and non-fiction, there will be something for every reader.

Keep ReadingShow less
Voices from Ukraine to America come to Stissing Center July 27

Ukraine Emergency Fundraiser at The Stissing Center in 2022 raised over $120,000 for Sunflower of Peace.

Photo by Michael Churton

The spirit of Ukraine will be on display at the Stissing Center in Pine Plains on Sunday, July 27. Beginning at 5 p.m., the “Words to America from Ukraine” fundraiser is set to showcase the simultaneous beauty of Ukrainian culture and the war-time turmoil it faces, all the while fundraising in support of Ukrainian freedom.

“Words to America from Ukraine” aims to remind and spread awareness for the suffering that often gets forgotten by those who live in comfortable worlds, explained Leevi Ernits, an organizer for the event. “We are trying to make an attempt to remind people that we are human, and we are connected with human values,” she said. “With very few words, poetry can express very deep values.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Grumbling Gryphons’ set to celebrate 45th anniversary with gala and summer theater camp

Celebrating its 45th year, the Grumbling Gryphons will perform at HVRHS Friday, Aug. 1, at 7 p.m.

Photo provided

The Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children’s Theater is preparing to celebrate its 45th year — not with fanfare, but with feathers, fabric, myth, chant, and a gala finale bursting with young performers and seasoned artists alike.

The Gryphons’ 2025 Summer Theater Arts Camp begins July 28 and culminates in a one-night-only performance gala at Housatonic Valley Regional High School on Friday, Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. Founder, playwright, and artistic director, Leslie Elias has been weaving together the worlds of myth, movement and theater for decades.

Keep ReadingShow less