Jaros will retire July 26
Fifth department head to leave in 18 months
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

J a ro s

After 36 years working for the Town of Amherst, Town Clerk Susan Jaros will retire, effective July 26.

"It has been my honor and privilege to serve the residents of Amherst for 36 years, and I have always tried to do my best to make the Amherst Clerk's Office run effectively and efficiently," said Jaros, who announced her decision today, July 2.

Jaros noted that she kept her budget requests to a minimum and, since 1997, effectively reduced her office budget by 32 percent.

Jaros' decision prompted questions because she was re-elected in November, took office in January and is now seven months into a four-year term.

"My time has come to move onto other issues, to do other things," she said, adding that she expects her decision to surprise her staff and employees.

When asked what she would say to residents who just re-elected her, Jaros said it was the toughest decision she has had to make.

"I have personal reasons for leaving," she said. "I can't accomplish what I want to, and this will give someone else a chance, someone with fresh ideas."

The Amherst Town Board has the sole responsibility of handling the vacancy. Jaros does not choose her replacement, which some have thought was a motive for her decision.

At press time, it was unclear if there was enough time to circulate petitions and have town clerk candidates on the November 2008 ballot.

Jaros started working in the town's then-Special District Office in 1972 and was later promoted to a senior clerk position and eventually to supervising tax clerk.

After 14 years in the Assessor's Office, she transferred to the Town Clerk's Office and took on new responsibilities. In 1988 she was appointed as tax receiver and was elected to that position in 1989. In 1997 she was elected town clerk when the Clerk's Office and the Tax Office were combined. She has since won re-election to the town clerk position three times.

Jaros said she has responded to change over the years, using new technologies to promote efficiency and save the town money. Most recently, she started using a deposit capture machine, which allows the town to invest monies collected more quickly, resulting in more interest income to the town.

She received a grant to scan and retrieve vital records through a computer system. Jaros also purchased a new computer software program for Town Board minutes and agendas, which also archives and indexes prior Town Board minutes and resolutions and thereby facilitates the public's access to this information via the Internet.

"I have worked hard at maintaining a service-oriented office and have tried to cross-train my employees," Jaros said.

Her professional service has included being the president of Erie County Tax Receivers and Collectors Association. Under her leadership, Erie County was the first county in New York to accept partial payments for taxes. She has been a director of the State Association of Tax Receivers and Collectors for 10 years and then took the position as first vice president for two years.

She has conducted numerous seminars and coordinated a conference in Western New York. Last year she was honored as the "Town Clerk of the Year" by the Erie County Town Clerks Association.

The town has suffered the loss of many department heads in the past two years. In January 2007, Joe Bachovchin retired as director of the Youth Board. Mark Johnston has been serving as interim director.

Len Fiegl retired as senior refuse officer in March 2007. Charles Moses Jr. has been serving as interim head.

In July 2007, John Moslow retired as police chief. John C. Askey, who had been serving as assistant chief, replaced him.

Assessor Harry Williams' term ended in September 2007, and he continues to serve. The future of the position is in limbo, as it's the supervisor's sole responsibility to present a name for consideration. A board majority must approve his appointment. Then in January 2008, Jeff Burroughs resigned as engineer. Building Commissioner Tom Ketchum has been acting as head of both departments since. Also in January, Frank Belliotti was not reappointed as comptroller. Darlene Carroll was named his successor.