Rotterdam Town clerk a state standout Rotterdam's Eunice Esposito named Most Outstanding Older Worker Staff reports First published: Friday, August 10, 2007
ROTTERDAM -- Eunice Esposito, Rotterdam's 80-year-old town clerk, was honored Wednesday as the state's Most Outstanding Older Worker.
The award, from the Experience Works Prime Time Awards Program, was given in response to an essay submitted by Esposito's daughter detailing her contributions and characteristics.
Esposito has been the town clerk in Rotterdam for more than 30 years, issuing marriage and dog licenses, permits and death certificates. She has kept up with changes in technology, has performed marriages, mentored students and attended parades, political functions and season-opening sports events.
Aside from the time and effort she puts into her position as town clerk, Esposito spends most of her free time with family, visiting the local senior center and working in her vegetable garden.
Esposito will be honored along with this year's other award winners in October at a Prime Time Awards event in Washington, D.C. She will attend a news conference, meetings with legislators and a recognition ceremony.
SALUTE TO EUNICE When I came to work at the Gazette in 1981 my first assignment was to report from the town of Rotterdam, and one of the pleasures of that assignment turned out to be dealing with Town Clerk Eunice Esposito. Well, 26 years later, here I am still at the Gazette, even if no longer as Rotterdam reporter, and there Eunice Esposito is, still as Rotterdam town clerk. Except that she has just been recognized as our state’s Outstanding Older Worker and will get to travel to Washington to receive her award from the Experience Works Prime Time Award Program, while all I get is angry letters to the editor. It doesn’t seem fair. True, I am not quite 80 years old, as Eunice is, and I don’t guide people through the red-tape of marriage licenses and birth certificates or anything else practical, but I do what I can for my fellow man and my fellow woman with the modest resources at my disposal. I note that Eunice was nominated for this award by her own daughter. If I had known such a thing was permissible I might have applied a little gentle persuasion to my own children to nominate me for some distinction, like maybe the Nobel Peace Prize, which I have long had my eye on. But I didn’t know. Anyway, Eunice Esposito is offi - cially our state’s Outstanding Older Worker, and I don’t begrudge her the honor for a minute. On the contrary, I congratulate her.
SALUTE TO EUNICE When I came to work at the Gazette in 1981 my first assignment was to report from the town of Rotterdam, and one of the pleasures of that assignment turned out to be dealing with Town Clerk Eunice Esposito. Well, 26 years later, here I am still at the Gazette, even if no longer as Rotterdam reporter, and there Eunice Esposito is, still as Rotterdam town clerk. Except that she has just been recognized as our state’s Outstanding Older Worker and will get to travel to Washington to receive her award from the Experience Works Prime Time Award Program, while all I get is angry letters to the editor. It doesn’t seem fair. True, I am not quite 80 years old, as Eunice is, and I don’t guide people through the red-tape of marriage licenses and birth certificates or anything else practical, but I do what I can for my fellow man and my fellow woman with the modest resources at my disposal. I note that Eunice was nominated for this award by her own daughter. If I had known such a thing was permissible I might have applied a little gentle persuasion to my own children to nominate me for some distinction, like maybe the Nobel Peace Prize, which I have long had my eye on. But I didn’t know. Anyway, Eunice Esposito is offi - cially our state’s Outstanding Older Worker, and I don’t begrudge her the honor for a minute. On the contrary, I congratulate her.
ROTTERDAM Town’s ‘first lady,’ 80, to be honored for service BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
When Eunice Esposito first began working for Rotterdam, present-day Supervisor Steve Tommasone was a child. Bob Godlewski, now the Town Board’s oldest member, was in his early 20s and John F. Kirvin was the town supervisor, not the name on the Town Hall. After nearly four decades as supervisor’s assistant and town clerk, Esposito may be the longesttenured public servant in town history. This fall, the 80-year-old town clerk will be representing New York’s working senior citizens at an annual recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C., to name America’s Oldest Worker. The designation is given each year by Experience Works, an employment service for older workers, and is aimed at recognizing the accomplishments of the nation’s senior citizens. Candidates must be at least 65 years old and show evidence of contributions in the workplace and within their community. “I am certainly humbled by all this. It is beyond all expectations,” Esposito said on Friday. Esposito first started working for Rotterdam in 1969 as an executive secretary to Kirvin, who died in office. Several years later, the mother of three was elected town clerk on the Democratic line, a position she still hasn’t relinquished. She keeps at her job because she enjoys helping the people of the town. “Whatever I endeavor to do, I enjoy it. I like my job and what I do. I was born to be of service and have somewhat succeeded. I do what I feel is right to do,” Esposito said. As an elected official, she has weathered nine campaigns, almost always facing an opponent and often with the backing of both political parties. “I have won with big margins,” Esposito proudly stated as an indication of her popularity. She calls herself a consummate professional, saying that “I do my job and have no party preference. Once the elections are over, I take it seriously and work for the residents. I am here to serve the people.” Nonetheless, she has encountered some friction with current members of the majority Republican Town Board. She would not go into detail on the record. She said this may be her last term as town clerk. One of her most vivid memories on the job was the day they named a town park after her. She was taking board minutes and was writing furiously in shorthand. “They tried to keep it a secret,” she recalled with a laugh. And it worked. When the board members in 2002 said they planned to rename the former Fort Hunter Park the Eunice O. Esposito Park, she looked up from taking notes and said with surprise: “Who?” Esposito is so dedicated to her job, it’s difficult just to get her to leave Town Hall for any reason during business hours, said Godlewski. Often she’ll hold down the office while her assistant goes on a lunch break. Earlier this month, he said, Esposito took her first-ever vacation. “She was supposed to be gone two weeks and she came back a week early,” he said. Godlewski said the longtime clerk sets a high standard for herself in the office. And despite her age, he said she still has a fi rm grasp on the functioning of the town’s inner workings. “She’s got what we call fire in the belly,” he said. It’s this devotion to public office that has made Esposito a living legend among those who have served Rotterdam. Tommasone said the clerk is a walking encyclopedia of town knowledge. “She knows everyone in town and she knows every department head,” he said. Tommasone recalled his fi rst run for Town Board in 1991, when he wanted to read through the minutes of past meetings. Esposito offered her office and her assistance. “It showed me that public service wasn’t just a job for her; it was her life,” he said. “Public service is a part of her.” Godlewski said the clerk’s continued dedication shows how valuable seniors can be and the need to draw them back into active community roles. He said her service should remain an inspiration to others around Rotterdam. “Washington, D.C., has our nation’s first lady; well Rotterdam’s first lady is Eunice Esposito,” Godlewski said.
Eunice Esposito issues a handicapped parking permit to town resident Dom Pitucci. MARC SCHULTZ/ GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER
I note that Eunice was nominated for this award by her own daughter.
As noted, Carl Strock made this known in his editorial. It's a nice gesture by Eunice's daughter, but I believe it would have had more of an impact if it wasn't family connected. Perhaps if a co-worker, friend or neighbor were to nominate Eunice it would have had more of a 'town' impact.
All of the applauds and hurrah's and the recognition are really after the fact.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
As an elected official, she has weathered nine campaigns, almost always facing an opponent and often with the backing of both political parties.
I'm sorry, but does anybody remember ANYBODY running against her, EVER?
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She calls herself a consummate professional, saying that “I do my job and have no party preference. Once the elections are over, I take it seriously and work for the residents. I am here to serve the people.”
Interesting, considering the paragraph that follows...
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Nonetheless, she has encountered some friction with current members of the majority Republican Town Board.
And this is the best news I've heard in quite a while...think...she's been in this position for 4 decades?
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After nearly four decades as supervisor’s assistant and town clerk, Esposito may be the longesttenured public servant in town history.
Imagine the savings on the taxpayers of this town once she retires and we don't have to pay her the amount we are right now. Look at it this way. Let's look at the 2007 budget. The 2005 proposed amount for the Clerk, Ms. Esposito's position was $42,815.00. The 2006 amount was $43,670.00. The 2007 budgeted amount is $47,000.00. That was a small 2% raise for 2006, followed by a 8% raise for 2007? Did anybody here get a 8% raise this year? Well, for this position, that's exactly what you got...in your tax bill. I wonder how much more Ms. Esposito is making now than she used to. Actually, the question to ask is if/when we get a new Clerk, how much would that person expect to make? Could we cut this by 10, 20%? Wouldn't that be a nice savings in the tax bill? Well...that would be money we could apply to the police officer's overtime, at least.
Not to say that Ms. Esposito isn't nice, but isn't enough, enough?
Nonetheless, she has encountered some friction with current members of the majority Republican Town Board.
I'm glad someone brought this up. I found this not necessary. What was the point? What was the gain? What was the motive? If memory serves me correctly this little scuffle involved Mr. Marco as well. So now that Ms.Mega Mouth Marco is retiring you can rest assured that Ms. Esposito will follow close behind. Clearly Ms. Esposito became part of the long time Rotterdam democratic machine. There was no room for change there.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Just changing of the guard, so to speak......yet, the only thing brought by this guard are studies.....very studious guards if you ask me....I wonder if we have learned anything.....Rotterdam has water problems.......so did Louisiana......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Someone told me that letters are being sent out for donations for Eunice. I don't know if they are being sent to residents or businesses or both in the area. Whatever is collected will be given to her at that award ceremony in October, I think.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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