Assistant Town Clerk

The Assistant Town Clerk is appointed by the Town Clerk, takes the oath of office, and can act for the Town Clerk. Town Clerk Mark E. Allen appointed the first, Ella S. Allen, on February 12, 1923. The officer lists show an assistant for 1923-1928 and 1936-1945. None is listed from 1946 to 1965. In 1971 Town Meeting funded a paid Assistant Town Clerk, and several assistants later became Town Clerk themselves (Mildred A. Westhaver, F. Lillian Turner, Myrtie D. Smith and Shirley E. Schult). The position was not funded from fiscal 1991 through fiscal 1994, and the Town Clerk noted that this left Billerica with no official who could step in for the Clerk by law. It was filled again in July 1995, and later assistants have been appointed for three-year terms.