MONTAGUE — Tina Sulda has been appointed to the interim town clerk role following the retirement of former Town Clerk Kathern “Beanie” Pierce earlier this month.

Sulda started as interim on Feb. 18 and will continue in the position until a new town clerk is hired. Town Administrator Walter Ramsey said a new person could be hired within the next few months, and Sulda will be paid a $67,277 salary, to be covered under the fiscal year 2025 budget.

In an email, Ramsey applauded Sulda for her willingness to take on the interim town clerk role on short notice. Sulda said she’ll be taking on the “day-to-day” tasks of the Town Clerk’s Office, like the dog licenses and election responsibilities.

“Tina is doing a fantastic job stepping up to fill the interim role. She is an employee of 13 years who started in the Treasurer’s Office and moved into the Clerk’s Office, serving as the assistant town clerk a couple of years ago,” Ramsey said, adding that within the next few weeks a job advertisement will be made available for the position.

A hiring committee for town clerk is being established, with members including Sulda, Assistant Town Administrator Chris Nolan-Zeller and Selectboard Vice Chair Matt Lord. The town is also searching for a member of the public to be part of this hiring committee, and once that person volunteers, the committee will be formalized in a future Selectboard meeting.

According to a job description for the town clerk provided in Monday’s meeting materials, responsibilities include “the maintenance of official municipal records, vital statistics, town census, issuing licenses and permits, and other official documents, collecting payments, administering fair and impartial elections, and providing information to the general public and town departments,” per Massachusetts General Law.

Prior to Sulda stepping into the position, Pierce was the town clerk starting in June 2023, following the retirement of former Town Clerk Deb Bourbeau after 26 years. Pierce had previously served as assistant town clerk, working alongside Bourbeau for five years.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.