Skip to main content

Tag: Terri Sanclemente

Professional Municipal Clerks Week honors city clerks

AMI city clerks honored during Professional Municipal Clerks Week

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The annual proclamation of Professional Municipal Clerks Week is a reminder of the important roles city clerks and their staffs play in the operation of a city government.

The 56th Annual Professional Municipal Clerks Week is being celebrated this year from May 4-10 and the International Institute of Municipal Clerks provided proclamations to be read aloud by city mayors in honor of their city clerks.

The one-page proclamation notes the office of the municipal clerk is the oldest among public servants and municipal clerks play vital roles in the operation of local governments worldwide. The office of the municipal clerk provides the professional link between the citizens, the local governing bodies and agencies and county, state and federal agencies while serving as the information center for the community and the local government.

“Municipal clerks have pledged to be ever-mindful of their neutrality and impartiality, rendering service to all,” the proclamation declares. “It is most appropriate that we recognize the accomplishments of the office of the professional municipal clerk.”

AMI Clerks

Stacey Johnston has been the Holmes Beach city clerk for 14 years. Before that she served as a Holmes Beach deputy clerk for five years under former City Clerk Brook Bennett, who retired in 2011.

Terri Sanclemente has been the Bradenton Beach city clerk for 10 years. Before that, she spent nine years working as an assistant or deputy clerk.

Amber LaRowe became the Anna Maria city clerk on March 25. She now handles the clerk’s duties long-performed by LeAnne Addy, who until recently served as city clerk and city treasurer and now serves as treasurer only. LaRowe became the St. Pete Beach city clerk in 2020 after serving as assistant city clerk for the city of Palmetto, which is her hometown.

When asked why she became a city clerk, Johnston said, “I’d say I fell into it. My mother had a hand in encouraging me to apply for a temporary position in the city clerk’s office for the city of Coffeyville, Kansas right out of high school, filling in for a girl on maternity leave. The new mother decided not to return and I was offered the position and that led to being appointed as their city clerk seven years later.”

Sanclemente became the Bradenton Beach clerk during a tumultuous period in Bradenton Beach that included Mayor Bill Shearon being recalled from office and the termination of two short-lived city clerks who served before her.

Professional Municipal Clerks Week honors city clerks
Bradenton Beach City Clerk Terri Sanclemente has served in that role for 10 years. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“I wanted to serve the people the best possible way I knew how and I thought it would be by becoming the city clerk since our city couldn’t seem to find the right fit,” Sanclemente said of those uncertain times.

As for why she became a clerk, LaRowe said, “I’ve always had a heart for public service. I started my career with the state attorney’s office in 2003, but when I had the opportunity to serve in local government I jumped at the chance. I never set out to be a city clerk and, at first, I wasn’t sure exactly what the job involved; but once I got started, I realized how much I love helping people every day, connecting with the community and playing a part in shaping local government. I’m passionate about open government, transparency and making sure everyone has a voice.”

Regarding the roles and functions of a city clerk, Johnston said, “Many people do not know what a city clerk does. While the city clerk’s roles are not always noticed and do not get a lot of public attention, the city clerk position is vital for a city. While each city clerk position is a little different, we touch everything that happens in the city in some way or another. As a charter employee (appointed by the city commission), the city clerk serves as the official records custodian responsible for the city’s records, historical information and legal documents, meeting coordination, business taxes and other city-owned rentals and permits, records requests, elections, insurance claims and serving as the liaison between the public and the elected officials.

“I love working and serving as city clerk for the city of Holmes Beach. We have excellent elected officials, committee members and employees and I really enjoy working with the residents and the public. Being a city clerk is not just a job, it’s a profession that I am truly blessed to say I have,” Johnston said.

Regarding her role, Sanclemente said, “Making sure that all of the city’s and citizens’ needs are met and that they know they can always rely on the city clerk’s office for all their needs.”

LaRowe said, “Being a city clerk is about more than just paperwork and policies: it’s about building relationships. City clerks are a bridge between the public and their elected officials. Every day, I get to meet new people, hear their ideas and help them navigate city processes. I love helping residents find creative solutions or turn a challenge into a new opportunity. My favorite part of this job is the personal connections I get to make and the chance to serve such a wonderful community.”

Professional Municipal Clerks Week honors city clerks
Anna Maria City Clerk Amber LaRowe began her tenure with the city in March. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Sun thanks all of Anna Maria Island’s city clerks, deputy clerks and administrative assistants, past and present, for the services they provide the community and the local media.

Commissioners pass resolution to protect municipal clerk privacy

Commissioners pass resolution to protect municipal clerk privacy

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – City com­missioners have approved a resolution urging the Florida Legislature to provide a public records exemption protecting the personal information of municipal clerks and employees who perform election work.

“This is being asked of all the cities to adopt by the Institute of Municipal Clerks,” City Clerk Terri Sanclemente said at a Feb. 20 city commission meeting. “There have been too many attacks on clerks and others who have to deal with elec­tions. And that is why they’re asking each city in Florida to adopt this resolution so that they can take it to the Legislature and ask for changes.”

Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce clarified that the exemption protects clerks’ personal information such as addresses and telephone numbers.

“Public officials are very often attacked and they’re attacked at their homes and this protects them, their home, their children and fam­ily members from being physically attacked and emotionally attacked and harassed,” Scaccianoce said. “Just like police officers and firemen. They just want to add clerks to that and election workers.”

The resolution will go into effect if the Legislature passes a parallel law.

During public comment, Elayne Armaniaco asked for confirmation that this resolution will not impede public records access, but is about personal information only.

Mayor John Chappie confirmed that is the case.

“That resolution is a template that came from the Institute of Municipal Clerks, that is not something that I created, that is something that was passed around to the municipal clerks in the state of Florida,” Sanclemente said.

A motion to approve a public records exemption for municipal clerks and employees regarding election work was passed unani­mously by the city commission.

Sanclemente honored as Certified Municipal Clerk

Sanclemente honored as Certified Municipal Clerk

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Bradenton Beach City Clerk Terri Sanclemente has been officially recognized as a Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC).

That recognition occurred at the Thursday, June 20 Bradenton Beach City Commission meeting.

Leading the ceremony was Holmes Beach City Clerk Stacey Johnston. Johnston is Master Municipal Clerk, the Southwest District Director of the Florida Association of City Clerks (FACC) and the incoming FACC vice-president.

Johnston said she was there to honor Sanclemente for achieving the milestone of becoming Certified Municipal Clerk with the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC).

“It’s not only an honor for Bradenton Beach that you have a Certified Municipal Clerk, but also for Manatee County and especially for Anna Maria Island,” Johnston said.

Johnston said the FACC currently has 631 members. Of those, 232 are Certified Municipal Clerks, including 21 in Florida’s Southwest District.

To be a full member of the IIMC and the FACC one must fulfill at least four of the eight core duties associated with being a municipal clerk. These include custody of the official city seal and the execution of official documents, elections, financial management, general management, human resource management, management of the municipality’s bylaws and other legal documents, meeting administration and records management.

“Every city clerk is a little different, we all may have different responsibilities,” Johnston said.

Sanclemente honored as Certified Municipal Clerk
Holmes Beach Clerk Stacey Johnston, left, discusses Terri Sanclemente’s accomplishments. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The certification process includes a minimum of 120 student/instructor contact hours, in-depth course study and 50 points accumulated during real-life experience working for a municipality.

“You can’t just walk in and get certified,” Johnston said.

Johnston said the student/instructor contact hours are turned into education points and 60 education points are needed to become certified. Johnston said an eight-hour webinar might only earn one half of a point.

“It’s a lot of training,” she said.

Johnston encouraged Sanclemente to now pursue the Master Municipal Clerk certification, which she can begin doing at this week’s annual summer academy in St. Augustine.

Sanclemente began working in Bradenton Beach in 2006 and worked there until June 2011. After a break, she returned to the city in mid-2014 and became City Clerk Pro Tem later that year. In June 2015, then-Mayor Jack Clarke removed the pro tem designation and appointed Sanclemente to serve as the City Clerk. Sanclemente then began the certification process she recently completed on May 10.

Johnston presented Sanclemente with a plaque conferring upon her the title of Certified Municipal Clerk.

She then placed on Sanclemente a pin symbolizing her new status as a Certified Municipal Clerk.

Sanclemente honored as Certified Municipal Clerk
Master Municipal Clerk Stacey Johnston presents Terri Sanclemente with a pin that symbolizes her designation as a Certified Municipal Clerk. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“Wear that pin with pride. You have earned it, you have worked hard for it and I’m just so glad you have it now,” Johnston said.

“Me too,” Sanclemente replied.

Sanclemente received a warm round of applause and a bouquet of roses from Mayor John Chappie and the city.

“Great job,” Vice Mayor Jake Spooner said.

Sanclemente honored as Certified Municipal Clerk
City Clerk Terri Sanclemente received a bouquet of roses from Mayor John Chappie and the city. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“Congratulations. You’ve done a lot of great work. You are amazing as our city clerk and we care so much about you. We couldn’t get along without you. Thank you so much,” Chappie said.

“Thank you. I really appreciate it,” Sanclemente said. “Without all of your encouragement and support I couldn’t do this. My family helped a lot and my husband supported me when I was away.”