Get To Know Milford's City Clerk

Milford City Clerk Linda Stock says her job boils down to one thing: customer service. And that's just fine with her.

"Pretty much I’ve been in customer service for my career," she says.

Stock is actually both the City Clerk and Town Clerk for the City of Milford, and that means she is also the Registrar of Vital Statistics.

A Republican, she was first elected in 2009, succeeding Alan Jepson who was the Clerk for 22 years.

The position means she is the clerk for the Board of Aldermen and is responsible for the board’s agendas, minutes and records. She also maintains all town records, including those for land transfers and mortgages, birth certificates, marriage licenses and dog licenses, and the official election records. The office is also one of the places to go for state hunting and fishing licenses.

Of course, she doesn’t do that alone. The City/Town Clerk’s office has a staff of assistant clerks that work with the public. But the odds are that sooner or later, most Milford residents will find their way to the office, directly across from the Tax Collector.

"I love helping people," Stock says. It’s her favorite part of the job.

"We love the dog licenses," she said, noting that dog owners are welcome to bring their pets in for a new license.

She and her staff also believe in teaching youngsters about their government and how it works. In 2010, Stock created a small coloring book for children who come to the office with their parents. The coloring book contains pictures representing the many functions of the office.

For added appeal, the office also sponsors a coloring contest every year that young children can participate in. The contest is held during the first week in May in observance of Municipal Clerk’s Week.

"I think it’s important for children to learn about their government, even at a young age," Stock says.

Stock has lived in Milford for 55 years. She has been married for 43 years and has three sons and two grandchildren.

She originally had a job as the overages, shortages and damages clerk for a trucking company until she got a job with the Planning & Zoning office 23 years ago. She eventually became the city’s Zoning Enforcement Officer, a post she held until she was elected City Clerk.

She said her husband is responsible for her seeking the position when they learned that Jepson planned to retire. "He kind of nudged me into it. I’m glad he did," she says.

In recognition of her many contributions, including her civic-minded coloring book, VFW Post 7788 in Devon presented her on Jan. 16 with its annual "Citizen of the Year" award, which is "presented to a person from the community who has demonstrated a true spirit of patriotism, love of country, who takes pride in being an American, and who promotes those attributes to the residents of the City of Milford and the State of Connecticut."