Jaros named Town Clerk of the Year for 2007
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Erie County Town Clerk's Association President Catherine A. Rybczynski, left, Amherst Town Clerk Susan K. Jaros and Amherst Deputy Supervisor Roy Wixson at the Association's luncheon where Jaros was honored as Town Clerk of the Year.

No one knows better about handling the day-to-day business of the largest town in Western New York than Susan K. Jaros, the Amherst town clerk and tax receiver.

Her dedication to the town was recently recognized by the Erie County Town Clerk's Association, which named her Town Clerk of the Year.

"I was obviously surprised ... this is a very nice honor," she said.

The award was announced at the association's annual luncheon on Feb. 27.

Jaros has been Amherst's town clerk since 1998, after being elected to the position in 1997. In 1988 she was elected tax receiver for the town and has held both positions since. She has been re-elected in each of her ensuing campaigns.

As Amherst continues to grow so does the demand on Jaros and her staff to maintain well-organized clerk and tax receiver offices.

The association has 25 clerks, and several wrote comments about Jaros' work ethic for the award presentation, said Catherine A. Rybczynski, Hamburg town clerk and association president.

According to Rybczynski, the comments included, "She is the epitome of a public servant," "She is dedicated and respected in her field," "She takes on great responsibility with state committees" and "She is always a phone call away and serves with a constant smile."

In addition to her positions in Amherst, Jaros is the first vice president of the NYS Tax Receivers and Collectors Association and for the past 11 years has served as the director of five counties in WNY.

Acting on behalf of the NYS Tax Receivers and Collectors Association, Jaros taught classes at the Association of Town Meetings held in New York City, as well as other locations around the state.

Jaros first joined the town in 1972 as a clerk typist in special districts in the assessor's office and in 1978 became senior clerk. In 1980 she advanced to supervising tax clerk and in 1985 moved to the town clerk's office as a supervising tax clerk.

"Susan is a shining star - a woman who stands ready to offer assistance whenever and wherever she can. She does it with a smile and grace of a lady who is always humble and never condescending," Rybczynski said.

Jaros is also a past president of the Zonta Club of Amherst and is a member of the Daemen College Association. She is also active in several community organizations.