Rockport says farewell to deputy town clerk

Sun, 03/10/2019 - 6:15pm

    ROCKPORT — Current and former town employees, select board members, family and the community filled the Rockport Opera House Feb. 28 to celebrate the retirement of Deputy Town Clerk, Brenda Kurr, for her 18-years of service to the town.

    Kurr’s official last day at the town office was March 4 after a career that began in April 2001. She was promoted from assistant town clerk to the deputy town clerk position in 2008.

    A special guest at the celebration, who traveled the most miles from Racine, Wisconsin, was Kurr’s daughter, Desirree. Kurr told the crowd that “she hasn’t stopped smiling” since her daughter arrived in town.

    Ken McKinley, Rockport Select Board chairman, shared at the podium that Kurr, “was one of our greatest resources in town for a long period of time.”

    Select board member Jeff Hamilton also paid tribute to Kurr, by playing the electric guitar in the band Red House, who performed during the entire party, playing tunes of classic rock and the blues, enticing some of the guests to the dance floor.

    Kurr said that some ways she first conducted the duties of her job have changed during 18 years. She recalled there were computers to manage the town’s databases, but she still used the typewriter to execute marriage licenses and vehicle registrations.

    “There wasn’t any room for error. The forms were in triplicate and if you made a mistake, you had to retype the entire form.”

    Kurr said she will definitely miss the people in the town and her co-workers.

    But, spending more time and relaxing with her family, grandchildren, and husband, Frank, who shares her passion for rides and adventures on their motorcycle, will easily keep her busy during her retirement.

    Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com