Town Clerk's Office

The Town Clerk’s Office is responsible for the administration of all elections, the recording of land records, the filing and indexing of all births, death & marriages, all liens, surveys and a myriad of other documents.  In addition, the Clerk’s office issues fish and game licenses, dog licenses, motor vehicle re-registrations and passports.  Voter registration is yet another important facet of this office.  The Town Clerk is elected to three year terms.

• Hours of Operation: Monday, Tuesday and Friday 8:00AM to 5:45PM; Wednesday and Thursday 8:00AM to 6:00 PM

• Location: Town Hall (6039 Main Street, Manchester Center, VT 05255)

• Telephone: (802) 362-1313, option 1

• Facsmile: (802) 362-1314

Bill Drunsic votes at Town Meeting as Carol Lattuga (left, Selectboard) and Bear Scovil (right, former Assistant Town Clerk) observe (Lee Krohn photograph)

For emergencies, please call 9-1-1 or the Police Department Dispatch Center at (802) 362-2022.  The Dispatch Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The office of the municipal clerk is one of the oldest public servants. When the colonist first came to America they set up forms of local government and the office of the Clerk was one of the first established. Over the years, clerks have become the hub of government, the direct link between the town inhabitants and their government.  The clerk is the historian of the community, for the entire recorded history of the town and its people is in the clerk’s care. 

The eminent political scientist, Professor William Bennett Munro stated: “No other office in municipal service has so many contacts.  It serves the Select Board, the Town Manager and all Administrative Departments without exception.  Its work demands versatility, alertness, accuracy and no end of patience.  The public does not realize how many loose ends this office pulls together.”

For more information about the role of the Town Clerk visit the Vermont League of Cities and Towns web site.

Linda Spence has served Manchester as Assistant Town Clerk from August of 1987 until October 1, 1996 at which time she was appointed as interim Town Clerk.  Linda was subsequently elected as Town Clerk in March of 1997; her current term expires in March of 2012.  Linda received her Certified Vermont Clerk certification and Certified Municipal Clerk designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks’ in 1995.  Linda served as President of the Vermont Municipal Clerks’ and Treasurers’ Association from 2000 to 2002.  She was named Vermont Town Clerk of the Year in 2003.  Linda also serves as a Justice of the Peace for Manchester. She is actively involved in the Vermont Municipal Clerks’ and Treasurers’ Association, the New England Association of City and Town Clerks and the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. 

Linda lives in Manchester with her husband Terry.  They have three children, Karli, Kristal and Kody as well as a five pound peekapoo, Karl.  Linda is a native Vermonter. Linda can be contacted via email at l.spence@manchester-vt.gov. Please be sure to include your full name, address and telephone number on any correspondence. Anonymous emails will not be considered.

Anita Sheldon serves as the appointed Assistant Town Clerk. She can be emailed at a.sheldon@manchester-vt.gov.

 Since 1772, Manchester has had 24 Town Clerks:

• Jeremiah French, 1772

• Martin Powel, 1773-1796

• Joseph Burr, 1796-1798

• Joshua French, 1798-1800

• Joel Pratt, 1800-1825

• Chester Clark, 1825-1828

• M. S. Shepherd, 1828-1832

• Lyman Harrington, 1832-1835

• R.H. Blackmer, 1835-1836

• William Black, 1836-1842

• William Sperry, 1842-1845

• Samuel Millet, 1845-1846

• John Cooke, 1846-1850

• Charles Harris, 1850-1853

• John Roberts, 1853-1866

• Loveland Munson, 1866-1873

• D.K. Simonds, 1873-1908

• C.A. Shattuck, 1908-1918

• Hiram Eggleston, 1918

• Alice E. Bennett, 1919-1952

• Helen B. Bigelow, 1952-1960

• Clara M. Hemenway, 1960-1979

• Barbara B. Cross, 1979-1997

• Linda L. Spence, 1997-present