By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
After nearly 30 years in government, Princeton municipal clerk Linda McDermott has called the roll for the last time.
In a week, she will step out of the municipal building, on what she said will be an emotional day, and embark on the next phase of her life. At 56, she is ending a career with the municipality that started in 1988 with the then-township. In that time, she witnessed the historic merger of borough and township, worked election nights to see new presidents chosen and seen how technology revolutionized her field.
“I’ve always loved Princeton, I’ve always loved the people and the incredible staff and meeting all the different, interesting people that we meet,” she said Thursday seated at a long table inside a conference room on the second floor of the municipal building. “One of the things that I love about the people that work here in this building is it’s a very can-do attitude. You find ways to make things work.”
In a nearly 25-minute-interview, Ms. McDermott looked back how, as a single, twentysomething, she got her start working under then township clerk Pat Shuss and then looked ahead to what happens next. Her last day at work will be Dec.15.
Ms. McDermott grew up Hamilton, the community she still calls home, went to schools there and then studied journalism at Rider. She worked different jobs including in alumni relations at her alma mater, until she applied for an opening in 1988 to be deputy clerk in Princeton Township.
For someone who liked working with people, the position seemed like a natural fit. She got the job, started in March of that year and later was promoted to serve as municipal clerk when Ms. Shuss retired in 2000. In a paper heavy profession, technology changed the way town clerks do their jobs, to now where everything is computerized.
“Just like anything else, it’s just amazing,” Ms. McDermott said. “We used to hand write everything or type back in the days when we had typewriters.”
Working in government, compared to when she started, is now “different,” in her words. She finds herself in a community with an engaged public that wants to be involved in their town.
“I think a lot always boils down to how quickly information is disseminated. Everybody’s eager for information right away,” she said. “Princeton is a unique town, I love that about Princeton. Everybody is just very interactive. There’s a lot of very intelligent people that come from all kinds of walks of life.”
She has no second thoughts about going into government and did not seek other opportunities during her time here. She said working in the public sector was the right decision for her. Working in Princeton was an education, she found, a time to learn about people and communities.
Leaving, though, comes at a good time for her and her family. Her husband, who works in emergency management in nearby West Windsor, is nearing retirement from his job, likely next year. There will be time to travel more, get out to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, garden and find some other job to occupy her time.
“It’s time to move on and try other things,” she said of a “tough” decision she made in August to step away. She said she is exploring “possibilities” and intends to work, as she is the type that needs to stay busy.
But before that, she will say her goodbyes. She expects she’ll cry when it comes time to leave.
“But how could you not?” she said. “Think about that. I mean, it’s a huge part of your life. So how could you not?”
“I will definitely miss the people,” she continued. “I will miss the relationships.”
