Mickel prepares to step down as Westborough’s town clerk

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Mickel prepares to step down as Westborough’s town clerk
Wendy Mickel, who is stepping down as town clerk in late January, shows a page from town records dating from 1760. (Photo/Maureen Sullivan)

WESTBOROUGH – Wendy Mickel knows the pulse of the town.

Births, marriages, deaths, Town Meetings, town elections — the everyday history of the community flows through the Town Clerk’s office.

For nearly three decades — 19 years as assistant town clerk, nine years as town clerk — Mickel and her staff have recorded and preserved town records, print and digital.

Come Jan. 27, Mickel will step down. She has decided not to run for another three-year term.

“2020 sealed the deal for me to retire,” said Mickel. “Vote by mail, early in-person voting … it’s too much work for us.”

She cited the extra preparation needed to run elections in town — this year alone, there were three elections (town election, state primary, state election) and three Town Meetings.

“The elections take away from day-to-day duties,” she said. “It’s getting more and more challenging.”

Changes over the years

When Mickel was first hired to assist then-Town Clerk Nancy Yendriga, the town’s population was 14,000; there were four precincts and three places to vote. Votes were recorded with crank-operated ballot boxes.

The town’s population is now 21,000, with six precincts and one place to vote. Votes are now recorded with high-speed scanners.

“There’s a lot of new people, a lot more apartments,” said Mickel, who has lived in town since she was one year old.

One change Mickel welcomed — the town’s decision to go back to the 1913 town seal.

“I like what we did,” she said. “I’m glad we brought the old seal back.”

Wendy Mickel looks to the future

Steps away from her desk, a vault contains Westborough’s town records from the beginning in 1717 to the present day.

“I like to go and pull out a book; it’s perhaps the best part of it,” said Mickel as she showed a page of town records from 1760. “It’s knowing I’m part of that. I’m a part of history now.”

Mickel will continue to serve the town as a member of the Master Plan Implementation Committee.

She will also enjoy spending time with her grandchildren.

Aside from that, Mickel is keeping her options open.

“I love the job, I love the town,” she said. “The number of people I’ve met, the number of people I know … the people coming in and taking care of what’s needed, that’s been the most fascinating part of the job.”

Assistant Town Clerk Deborah Ledoux has pulled papers to run for town clerk in the March 14 Annual Town Election.

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