After three decades, there will soon be a new town clerk in Newfane.
Mickie Kramp will be retiring from her post this week following 34 years of service in town government.
A Rochester native, Kramp moved to Newfane about 40 years ago and shortly thereafter met her late husband, Bill.
Kramp recalls that, initially, she never anticipated a career in town government. As a child, she wanted to be a teacher.
However, her fondness for people led her on a different path.
“I like talking to people and meeting people. That’s how it all started,” Kramp said.
Some of her previous stops before Newfane Town Hall included General Motors and Lockport City School District, where she was a secretary.
In 1989, Kramp was hired as a deputy clerk under then-Newfane town clerk Beverly Collins. At that time the town offices were sited in the buildings that now house the town courts on Transit Road.
“I could walk to work, which was nice,” Kramp said, adding that her children attended school a veritable stone’s throw away from her office.
Throughout her tenure, which included a move to the current town offices on Main Street, Kramp said she has always tried to create a “homey” and welcoming atmosphere for residents coming into the town hall.
For many years, she has decorated the interior for various holidays, making use of her patriotic Christmas tree, and displayed some of her favorite characters, including Mickey Mouse and Raggedy Ann, in her office.
“Residents would all come in and say, ‘Hi.’ They would bring their dogs or their grandkids in to show me. Since I’m also Mickie they brought me in all kinds of Mickey Mouse stuff,” she said.
Also on the walls in Kramp’s office are several town clerk certificates and awards. Among them is the award for New York State Clerk of the Year, which she won in 2011.
Kramp cites that award as the single biggest accomplishment and most surprising moment in her career.
“I never thought I would get the New York State award. I was surprised when I won the county award that year, but then when they announced that, I had no clue,” Kramp said.
While town clerks often act as a jack of all trades, Kramp’s favorite part of the job is issuing marriage licenses and performing the ceremonies as a marriage officer.
“I enjoyed talking to the couples, they’re all happy and excited and it’s wonderful,” she said.
Town Supervisor John Syracuse attributes Kramp’s longevity and success in her post to her dedication to the town and the community at large.
“Any of these individuals that have served for 20 or 30 years are the face of your government. Mickie’s done a wonderful job, not just within the town hall confines, but she’s also a wonderful public servant out there in the community,” he said.
Kramp said that she will be still active in the community and continue to serve as the secretary for the town’s planning board. She also plans to pick up some new hobbies during retirement.
“I love my job, but I figured now it’s time for me to (retire). If I want to read a book, I can read a book. If I want to go for a walk, I can walk,” she said. “I’m going to the gym every day with my granddaughter.”
The thing she will miss most about being the town clerk is daily interactions with town residents.
“I’m gonna miss the people and the everyday things because I’m a person that likes to get up early and get going,” Kramp said.
Current deputy clerk Donna Lakes was elected in November to succeed Kramp as town clerk.
“(Kramp’s) charm and poise will be missed here, but we’ll see a seamless transition,” Syracuse said.