BUCKLAND — After five years as an assistant learning the ropes from former Town Clerk Janice Purington, Elizabeth Cerone is now in the driver’s seat, having been chosen as town clerk during the June 23 election.
The adjustment to the new role has taken time, Cerone said, but not because she wasn’t prepared. Rather, it’s hard not to think of the spot in Town Hall as Purington’s office, as she served as town clerk for 30 years.
“I’m trying to find my own groove and make the office feel like my own,” said Cerone, who started as town clerk on July 1. “I still catch myself saying ‘Janice’s desk.’”
Cerone, 33, has lived in Buckland with her husband, Benjamin, since October 2010, shortly after they got married. Both were from Heath.
She previously worked at Baker Pharmacy in Shelburne Falls as a soda jerk for 10 years, a job she got while still in high school and continued to hold while taking classes at Greenfield Community College. She earned an associate’s degree in liberal arts, and later took some business classes.
Cerone left her job at Baker Pharmacy to focus on caring for her two children, Joshua, now 9, and Lucia, now 6. Then, about five years ago, she got a call from Purington. The two knew each other because Cerone was friends with one of Purington’s sons.
Purington relayed that, for the first time in her then 25 years as town clerk, there was money in the budget for her to hire an assistant.
“She just called me up out of the blue one day and asked me if I’d be interested (in the job),” Cerone said. “I was touched and very much willing, and I really, really loved working with her. I learned a lot from her.
“It sounded ideal for my situation,” Cerone added, noting that the part-time job allowed her to still spend time with her children. “And it was nice to financially contribute to my family.”
By the time Purington announced her plans to retire, Cerone said she felt she could step into the town clerk’s position with some confidence, inspired by Purington’s service. Cerone was involved in ensuring voting went smoothly during the 2016 presidential election, and feels she has a grasp on the often behind-the-scenes work the job entails.
“There’s a lot to this position and I don’t know that many people really understand that,” Cerone said. “I’m up for the task, but I’m still learning things all the time.”
Currently, Cerone does not have an assistant, as one was not budgeted for fiscal year 2021. She hopes to regain an assistant in the future.
“Having at least two people doing certain tasks is so much faster and helpful,” she said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cerone encourages residents who need services at Town Hall to call ahead to ensure someone is there, as some staff members are working remotely on certain days of the week. The main number for Town Hall is 413-625-6330.
Cerone, who now works 30 hours per week, encourages residents to introduce themselves if they haven’t already met her.
“I would love to be successful in this position and just be there for the general public,” she said, “and serve them the best that I’m able to.”
Reach Shelby Ashline at 413-772-0261, ext. 270 or sashline@recorder.com.