BORDENTOWN: Longtime city clerk reveals retirement

After decades of service, Patricia Ryan will serve her last day on Aug. 1

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   BORDENTOWN CITY — Patricia Ryan has announced she will retire this summer.
   Just as Mayor Joseph Malone was starting his new term at the June 10 City Commission meeting, he had to read a letter from the longtime city clerk making the announcement.
   The letter, addressed to Mayor Malone, Deputy Mayor James Lynch and City Commissioner Zigmont Targonski, said, “On July 23 of this year, I celebrate my 40th year with the City of Bordentown, and it is with some sadness that I inform you that I will be retiring as of Aug. 1, but also with joy of starting a new chapter of my life.”
   Mayor Malone said he was “not happy” to receive the letter. Deputy Mayor Lynch concurred.
   ”As I begin my 25th year in office, Pat Ryan was there every day and every year for me,” Mr. Lynch said. “I already had some discussion with Pat that we are sad. I don’t really have much to say right now, and I will have some more conversations with Pat as I get a little stronger knowing that she is not going to be here.”
   Ms. Ryan said she grew up in the city “where everyone knows everyone else.”
   She said, “It was great working with all the residents who knew my parents and my grandparents. Bordentown City is like a big family. We try to take care of all the residents and help them when they need it.”
   Her letter thanked the city and its residents for the opportunity they gave her to serve them over her tenure. Ms. Ryan said it was a pleasure working with the “wonderful commissioners, professional employees, residents and staff” who all helped make her time working in Bordentown City “very rewarding.”
   Mayor Malone said he first started serving as a city commissioner in May 1973, and Ms. Ryan started as city clerk in July 1973.
   ”Pat knew everything about the city of Bordentown,” Mayor Malone said. “She had one thing in mind and one thing in her heart — the City of Bordentown — and she never let politics or anything else get in the way of serving this community.”
   Ms. Ryan, who started her tenure working for the city’s water and sewer utility, said, “A cousin of mine who was the water and sewer billing clerk at that time was leaving and informed me of the open position so I applied for the job.”
   Over the years, she found herself working her way up through different departments to city clerk.
   ”In April of 1984, the previous clerk, Elizabeth Mackinnon, retired, and I became the city clerk, finance officer and registrar,” Ms. Ryan said. “In 1990, I became a certified municipal clerk. I also obtained my certified public manager’s designation in 1991 through Rutgers University and the State of New Jersey.”
   According to Ms. Ryan, she is essentially the “city administrator” even though the city of Bordentown does not officially have one.
   Mayor Malone said, “She has worked her way up to a very, very high level position and character. Her reputation is impeccable over the years. She really has held the city together.”
   Commissioner Targonski attributed the “good financial” position of the city to Ms. Ryan.
   ”The reason I told people the city was in such good financial condition was because she knew where every nickel was every minute of the day,” Commissioner Targonski said. “If you wanted to buy something or if you wanted to do something, you had to go in there with a pretty good story, with state regulatory things, or most likely, it was going to be a no, not now. She will be greatly missed for all of her service,”
   In addition, Ms. Ryan has served as the treasurer, secretary, vice president and president of the Burlington County Municipal Clerks Association during her tenure as city clerk. According to Ms. Ryan, she still serves on the city Economic Development Committee and as co-chairwoman of the Old City Hall Restoration Committee.
   Mayor Malone said he highly respects Ms. Ryan for her accomplishments and for being able to point out what needed to be done no matter what it took, even if that meant being “ripped” into at times.
   ”She is an absolutely fantastic woman who I respect highly, and I can tell you this over my years of dealing with Pat that she ripped me every time I needed to be ripped, and for that, I respect her tremendously,” Mayor Malone said. “We will miss her. We wish her well. There are going to be some sad days in City Hall over the next month and a half to two months.”
   Mr. Lynch wished her the best.
   ”We will have more to say down the road,” Deputy Mayor Lynch said.