ROCHESTER — Selectmen announced the retirement of a dedicated 36-year town public servant on Jan. 21.

Naida Parker said she is retiring on Feb. 7, after serving as town clerk for over three decades and as a selectman for 15 years. She retired from the latter position in 2018.

 "We want to thank her for her years of service to the town," Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar said, before the board endorsed Parker's resignation letter Monday night. "She's been a very invaluable resource for town hall.  She's been very well-appreciated and very well-liked."

Szyndlar then quickly switched to the topic of what should be the next steps to replace Parker, in her an elected position.  She said the selectmen have the authority to appoint an interim town clerk to serve from February until the April 8 town election.

Selectmen Chair Paul Ciaburri said the board will work on such a plan. He explained after the meeting's conclusion that Parker is currently assisted as town clerk by senior citizen volunteers in a program that allows them to work off their tax bill debt.  None of these workers have the authority of town clerk that Parker has and they would not be ready to assume her duties.

 Ciaburri said it was too soon to say what specific action the board will take.  "We are in the process of figuring out what we will do," he said.

 He said nomination papers have only recently been made available for the April election ballot. So it is too soon to know who might run for the clerk's seat. Selectmen are also hoping to get Town Meeting approval to make the position an appointed one. 

In other approval action Monday, the board endorsed police chief Robert Small's recommendation to appoint Elisha V. Roberts, 27, as a part-time Rochester police officer. Small said Roberts grew up in New Bedford and currently lives in Swansea. He has an Associates degree in Criminal Justice, and he is fluent in Portuguese.