CLIFTON – In the days leading up to Nov. 4, newly-appointed City Clerk Barbara Nagy had the job of making sure eligible citizens could vote.
On Election Day she was in charge of making sure poll workers had the supplies they needed to accommodate the massive turnout of voters. If things weren’t in order, she was the first to know about it.
"We troubleshoot," Nagy said.
Her workday began about an hour before the polls opened and ended about two hours after they closed.
On other days, she oversees the records of important documents such as birth and death certificates, licenses, ordinances and City Council meeting agendas while fielding other inquiries, such as those for public records.
It’s a diverse role in a diverse community, and Nagy is no stranger to the City and the needs of its residents.
Nagy was raised in Clifton. She grew up in Botany Village and graduated from Clifton High School (CHS). She and her husband Adam have two kids, also CHS alumnae.
She was hired as a clerk typist at City Hall in 1984 and worked her way to deputy clerk and registrar under former City Clerk Richard "Dick" Moran, who retired after 20 years as the City’s "go-to" guy.
Nagy had been filling in as interim city clerk since April, until last month when she was appointed by the Council to take over the position permanently.
"Everything seems to be running smoothly," Nagy said last week, with a sincere yet eager smile.
Juggling a number of jobs at once makes for anything but a typical day. The diversity of the job is what she said she enjoys most, in addition to the people of Clifton and the staff at City Hall that have become a second family to her. Moran, the former clerk, often stops by to visit and see how Nagy and her colleagues are doing.
"Its very diverse. It’s fast-moving. Everyday you learn something new," Nagy said. "I enjoy the people."
Even when she’s off the City’s clock, Nagy attends periodic classes at Rutgers University to keep up her certification as City Clerk, as methods for doing every aspect of the job keep changing.
"Everyday it’s something different. There’s new responsibilities," Nagy said.
"You grow into it," she added, smiling.
