Seven of nine city councilors signed a letter delivered Monday urging the prospective new city clerk to hire from within for her replacement.
Councilor Pat Casey said she told Assistant City Clerk Alison Brett their preference to see the council’s long-time secretary, Colleen Taylor, succeed Brett when she takes over as city clerk. Carol Valcourt, who’s been city clerk the past 15 years, will retire on Nov. 30.
Brett, who’s worked in the office for 22 years, will be appointed by Mayor Robert Correia to start Dec. 1, Valcourt and administration officials said. Correia was on vacation last week and could not be reached for comment late Monday.
The city clerk appoints the assistant city clerk, according to city charter ordinance.
Casey and other councilors initiated an effort to see Taylor promoted to assistant city clerk after hearing that one of Correia’s staff members might get the job. Ines Leite, Correia’s director of communications, [...]

Original post by Michael Holtzman