A former town clerk has stepped back into the position to replace resigned Clerk Wendy Drouin.

Joyce Kullgren was appointed by the Select Board and started in the position on June 1. Kullgren has experience as a Town Clerk in Temple, having served in that position from 1992 through 2001. 

Since that time, she has continued to build her office skills, spending 13 years as the office manager for five offices at the Monadnock Community Hospital. Most recently, she has been assisting her daughter with the opening of Salon Xcellence in Temple and working as a bookkeeper for the business.

On Tuesday, Kullgren recommended and the board approved Jeanne Whitcomb as her deputy clerk. Whitcomb had previously held that position, but resigned along with Drouin. The two, along with Treasurer Shannon Kelley and later office assistant Betsy Perry, resigned in April citing personality clashes with Selectwoman Gail Cromwell. The town and employees attempted reconciliation, but ultimately Drouin permanently resigned at the end of May. Normally, when a clerk resigns or is unable to continue their duties, the deputy becomes the clerk. Unprepared to shoulder both the responsibilities of being clerk and tax collector, a position she already held, without the assistance of a clerk, Whitcomb resigned her position as well. Once Kullgren was in the position, Whitcomb agreed to become deputy once again.

“It’s all coming back to me,” said Kullgren. “I’m very thankful to have the job and to be able to work with Jeanne Whitcomb again.”

Kullgren will attend a course to become a licensed municipal agent – a requirement to do tasks such as car registration – in July. Currently, Whitcomb is a licensed municipal agent and is able to handle those duties that need that requirement.

On Tuesday, Kullgren requested of the board permission to use Droiun, who still works for the town as deputy tax collector, as a municipal agent on an as-needed basis until Kullgren recieves her own municipal agent license. The board was amenable, but agreed to hold off on making the decision official until they had gathered more information on a suitable hourly rate and had confirmed Drouin was willing to accept the responsibility.

 

Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.