Christa McNamara, a Republican member of the Board of Selectman, was appointed Monday night to the vacant position of Town Clerk from June 1, 2021 through Jan. 3, 2022.
The position has been vacant since Caryn Diller’s death on Nov. 14, 2020 from glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer.
The board’s vote was 4 to 0 in favor, with McNamara abstaining.
“I just wanted to thank you all very much for your vote of support,” McNamara told the board. “I am proud of the work I have done with this board, most importantly seeing the passage of two town budgets that have provided services to our residents of Darien while still respecting the financial implication to all of our taxpayers
“I wish I could continue to serve the town in both roles,” McNamara told the board, “but as we know, the Town Charter prohibits such.” So on June 1, the Board of Selectmen will have a vacancy.
“I look forward to now serving our community from inside Town Hall, and I’m very excited to take on this new challenge. […] Thank you all very much for your support.”
Image from Board of Selectmen's meeting
Christa McNamara at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting online as she was introduced as the candidate for Darien town clerk.
First Selectman Jayme Stevenson told McNamara, that Darien has had something of a tradition of having town clerks serve in that office for many years, and “I think you’re perfectly suited to continue with that fine tradition.”
Diller had been town clerk since 2019, replacing Donna Rajczewski, who retired after two decades in the post. Before Rajczewski, Town Clerk Marilyn Van Sciver (who passed away on April 24) had held the position from 1978 to 2000.
McNamara previously had been a member of the Board of Education.
Stevenson said McNamara had been nominated for the post and interviewed by the Board of Selectmen.
“We’re going to be sad to see you go,” from the Board of Selectmen, she said.
McNamara’s seat on the Board of Selectmen must go to a member of the same party — in this case a Republican — and the selectmen have 30 days to make a choice, Town Attorney Wayne Fox told the board. The replacement selectman would fill out the remainder of McNamara’s term, which ends at the next town election.
Without McNamara on the panel, the Board of Selectmen is split 2 to 2 between the two parties. The replacement member would need to have the vote of the first selectman, in this case Jayme Stevenson, and two other board members, Fox said.
If selectmen can’t decide on a replacement within 30 days, a panel is formed of elected town officials in the same political party as the official being replaced. That panel is appointed by the town clerk within the following 10 days, and that panel would have 60 days to appoint a replacement, Fox said. If that also fails to result in a replacement, the town holds an election for the post, he said.