Rocky Hill clerk Ray Whitlock set to retire

Borough native has been involved in virtually every aspect of municipal affairs

By: Jake Uitti
   ROCKY HILL — Ray "Toby" Whitlock, perhaps the borough’s most recognizable person, announced he will retire as municipal clerk at the end of June to the gasps of the Borough Council and the residents in attendance at the May 1 meeting.
   Borough Mayor George Morren, who moved to Rocky Hill when Mr. Whitlock was on the council, said of his service, "I can’t think of anybody who is more associated with government in this town than Mr. Whitlock. All I can say is whenever we can’t figure something out, everyone says, ‘Ask Toby.’ I don’t think you can say much more than that. I think everybody will have a much tougher time once he steps down."
   Mr. Whitlock, who has lived in Rocky Hill his whole life, has been involved in virtually every aspect of borough affairs since he was born there 67 years ago.
   He served as mayor for four years, borough councilman from 1979 to 1996, fire chief, president of the fire company and chairman of the Planning Board for five years.
   "Change is good," Mr. Whitlock said. "It is just as good to go out when people think you’re still doing a decent job. I just don’t want to be the one in charge or responsible any more," he said with a laugh. "I don’t mind doing some of the grunt work, though."
   Some of his accomplishments while with the municipality range from securing the Schafer Tract in the borough, which is now under development as a public park, to helping to fix the water pollution problem that occurred in the borough’s well water in the 1970s.
   Despite the prospect of more free time, Mr. Whitlock said he will certainly cherish the memories of his position with the borough.
   "In a little town like Rocky Hill, the municipal clerk is kind of the focal point," he said. "It’s where the action is."
   Mr. Whitlock said it is anticipated that the Borough Council will appoint him as deputy clerk for six months to a year to ease the transition for Donna Griffiths, the present tax collector in the borough, while she gets ready to take over his position.
   "We want to ensure a smooth transition," he said.