Published: May 27, 2009 10:57 pm      

Catlettsburg gets new city clerk

CATLETTSBURG — The Gate City has named a new city clerk.

Helen Barker was appointed to the position last week and will take over as clerk on June 8. Barker, 61, is a Catlettsburg native and employed with the Boyd County School District as an administrative secretary at Summit Elementary.

Mayor Pauline Hunt said Barker was selected from among 12 applicants.

She said a committee of three council members initially reviewed the applications. It then requested assistance from the city’s accounting firm — Kelley Galloway and Co. — to narrow the field to four.

Barker was selected from the top four applicants. Hunt said her residency in Catlettsburg, along with her qualifications, were the deciding factors.

As an administrative secretary, Barker handles payroll, tax liabilities, retirement accounts, bank statements, workman’s compensation and maintains employee records.

Barker has worked for Boyd County schools since 1996 and has been at Summit since 2001.

Barker said Tuesday she was excited about her new position and looked forward to being trained. She described herself as a “people person” and said she thrives in a busy atmosphere.

Current Clerk/Treasurer Kay Cole will continue to serve Catlettsburg as its full-time treasurer once Barker takes office. The once combined position was separated earlier this year by a vote of the city council and the position of an assistant clerk/treasurer was dropped.

Barker will be responsible for the following duties as outlined in the city’s ordinance:

‰Maintenance and safekeeping of the permanent records of the city.

‰Performance of duties required of the “official custodian” of records under the Kentucky Open Records Act.

‰Possession of the seal of the city.

‰Publishing legal advertisements for the city.

‰Bookkeeping and preparation of the city payroll.

‰Submitting required information to the governor’s office for local development.

‰Take and type minutes for city council and board meetings.

Having two full-time staff members to handle the city’s books will allow the city to staff the public office when one of the two women is on vacation, Hunt said.

The office will also be opened for a half day on Saturdays during property tax season, she said.

CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.