Tough Search For A Town Clerk Ends

Janice Barrett

More than six months after Nasewaupee’s first appointed clerk resigned, the town board agreed Nov. 16 to appoint Janice Barrett to the position.

The town had switched the position this year from an elected to an appointed position, and the former clerk, Jill Lau, did not apply for the job but instead ran for a town supervisor seat. The town board filled the position earlier this year, but the person resigned two weeks later. Lau has been serving as interim clerk since then, while also filling her supervisory role. 

Barrett, whose appointment took effect immediately, currently resides in Sturgeon Bay and has spent most of her life in northern Georgia, and has a background in consulting, accounting and human resources.

“I’ve built business plans for entrepreneurs,” she said. “I’ve identified angel investors to get the entrepreneurs up and running over the years.”

After having most recently lived in Florida for four years, Barrett said she has been in the Sturgeon Bay area for the past three months and also teaches swimming classes at the Door County YMCA.

Barrett said sailing is what brought her to the area, and she was encouraged by a member of the community to apply as Nasewaupee’s clerk.

“I didn’t really expect to become the clerk,” she said.

Barrett said she has agreed to stay on for at least one year in the part-time clerk’s position, which is based on an average of 15 hours a week and will pay her an annual salary of $32,000.