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Former Elections Moderator Sworn In As Assistant Town Clerk

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Former Elections Moderator Sworn In As Assistant Town Clerk

By John Voket

The town clerk’s office seldom boasts sold-out crowds or hosts screaming legions of groupies, but if necessary, that department’s newest staff member has the skills to handle it. On Monday, Newtown resident Debbie Aurelia was sworn is as the new assistant town clerk.

Besides recently serving as a town poll moderator, Ms Aurelia also has experience as an event security officer who used to work for an Orlando-area sports and entertainment arena. She told The Bee that she relocated back to her hometown from Altamont Springs, Fla., about a year ago, when she learned she could continue working for her then-employer, a publishing company that circulates sales periodicals for the automotive and recreation industry.

“I built up my office and computer experience working for this multimedia publishing house,” Ms Aurelia said. “When I had the chance to move back to Newtown, I was fortunate to be able to continue working for the company from out of my home [here].”

While she always aspired to a career in public service, this new position is her first opportunity to serve her fellow Newtown residents full time. The mother of two boys, both Newtown High School students, Ms Aurelia hopes to be a resource to other staff and visitors who have to work with a brand new computer system at the town clerk’s office.

“I’m not a trained computer person, but I can troubleshoot and try and think through software and network problems logically,” she said.

Ms Simon said she welcomes the assistance. Her office has been down one person since Carol Mayhew left the office and moved out of state.

In the coming weeks, Ms Simon said her newest staffer will shadow the department’s other employees, Blithe Dotson and Susan Shpunt.

“It’s our job to make sure she can jump in and do every task in the office,” Ms Simon said. “She will also begin working toward taking her state certification test.”

She said the local office will undoubtedly benefit from information Ms Aurelia brings back with her from the two- or three-day training seminars presented for town clerk certification training.

“She’ll be able to take what she’s learned here and apply it to her training, but it’s a two-way opportunity because she’ll be learning the newest information and practices, which will come back here to enhance our office operations,” Ms Simon said.

Ms Simon explained that once her new staff member receives state certification, she would be able to continue on to study for Connecticut or even international town clerk certification if she so chooses.

“If she wants to take her career further she certainly can,” Ms Simon said. “So much of this job is diving into the nitty-gritty, and it takes time to learn all the functions.”

As Ms Aurelia becomes more acclimated to the comings and goings of her office, located just inside the front door of Edmond Town Hall, Ms Simon said she may reevaluate and reassign particular responsibilities as she sees fit.

“I haven’t decided what individual department personnel will have particular responsibilities yet,” she said. “For now, we’ll make sure Debbie is learning as many of the specifics as possible so she will better understand the material she will be covering in her certification training.”

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