Wiscasset has announced its new town clerk. Linda Perry, formerly Waldoboro’s town clerk, assumed the position vacated by Chris Wolfe on Aug. 3.
Perry, a certified town clerk with 12 years of experience, stood out in the interview process, Town Manager Marian Anderson said. “We did a thorough background check and her references were impeccable,” Anderson said.
Perry was extremely excited when she learned she had been hired as Wiscasset’s town clerk and is looking forward to serving the people of Wiscasset, she said.
Perry, who previously served as Waldoboro’s town clerk, comes to Wiscasset after a dispute with Waldoboro Town Manager Linda Jean-Briggs boiled over into a superior court complaint.
In January, Perry was placed on disciplinary probation by Briggs who alleged Perry violated Waldoboro’s personnel policy, exhibited a disgruntled attitude, and brought negative scrutiny to the town through dealings with the press.
Perry appealed the disciplinary action internally and Briggs denied the appeal. According to the Superior Court complaint, the dispute can be traced back to Briggs’ decision in June 2014 to assign duties previously handled by the administrative assistant to Perry.
Perry argued the additional responsibilities could not be completed in a 40-hour work week, which Briggs addressed six-months later in the letter notifying Perry she was on disciplinary probation.
The dispute between Perry and Briggs sparked a citizen’s petition led by Waldoboro resident Katie Winchenbach, who is now a selectman, which asked the town to discontinue the use of Briggs as town manager.
Perry, represented by attorney Roger Therriault, filed a superior court complaint against the town asking for the disciplinary action to be rescinded and evidence of the action removed from Perry’s personnel file. According to Therriault, the superior court complaint is still pending.
According to Anderson, the situation had no impact on Wiscasset’s hiring decision. “I don’t know a thing about it,” Anderson said. “We don’t get involved in what happens in other communities.”
Co-workers, former town managers that worked with Perry, and community members were contacted as part of the hiring process, Anderson said. All spoke very highly of Perry, Anderson said.
Situated behind the counter at the Wiscasset Town Office on her second day on the job, Perry said she is well versed in the responsibilities of town clerk and is excited to be a part of the Wiscasset municipal team.
“Everyone here has been great,” Perry said. “It’s only my second day but things are going smoothly.”