It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten to talk to you! Over the past three years, since the death of my father, my personal life has been more than a little tumultuous. In March, following the closing of 2025 property tax collection, I decided to take some time away from the day-to-day Town Clerk duties to get my life straight.

I did a lot of thinking. I’ve been with the town of Franklin since 1997 in various capacities–Tax Collector, Deputy Town Clerk I, Town Clerk I, Deputy Town Clerk II, Assessment Review Board, Town Clerk II, Celebrations Committee, Community Center Committee … the list goes on. I’ve worked with every Town Supervisor, starting with Frank Karl. Poor Frank put up with a 30-year-old young woman who didn’t know the first thing about tax collection. Mary Fredenburgh was next. I had worked with Mary at the Gift Corner/Yum Yum Tree in Saranac Lake in the 80s — she was a real go-getter. Mary Ellen Keith went through life led by her heart. She taught me to take the time to get to really know people. I don’t think I laughed more with a supervisor than I did with Art Willman. He was focused and driven and could throw in a hilarious one-liner at a board meeting in just the right way to make me have to lower my head to collect my facial expression. In my opinion, Dot Brown is the most progressive supervisor and the most gutsy. Three weeks before she took office, the Highway Garage burned down. I did have a little anxiety on Dec. 31, 2019 — What if she did show up for 2020? Three months after she took office — COVID happened. She hung in and has spearheaded the two largest construction projects our town has ever seen. Her legacy isn’t written yet.

I thought about the happy times you and I have had together. I did marriage licenses for young couples in the 1990s and had their children come in for their own marriage licenses 25 years later. I’ve done two home birth certificates. Birth certificates are rare for municipalities with no hospital. I thank those families for allowing me to be part of their lives. I have sad times, too. I’ve cried with widows and widowers at the loss of their spouses. Through the years, I’ve lost favorite residents — Ralph Preston, Bertha Sawyer, Carl King, former Supervisor Vince Pagano, Martha and Floyd John … I could go on.

I dug way down and thought about our Halloween Haunted Jaunts with Gene’s Grocery, Town Hall, Food Pantry and Nazarene Church. I thought about the Old Fashioned 4th of July with talent show looooong before American Idol. I remember bagpipes, magic and some beautiful patriotic artwork.

I thought about being handed a ledger and pencil for tax collection and thinking there must be a better way. I remember starting our website with Rainbow Graphics in the 90s. I remember Christmas parties, Easter Egg Hunts, Bill Wilson directing the summer youth program, Cora Cray at the table on election day and I remember helping the 5th grade class at Bloomingdale Elementary earn money to take a trip to Ottawa by holding a fundraising dinner that sold out in 20 minutes. Principal Pat Hogan wrote out a check that was very generous, considering he got instant mashed potatoes and jar gravy.

Taking a step back has allowed me to assess where I am in life. As you may be aware, the governor is bouncing around term changes for 2026 only. The upcoming term for Town Clerk will be one year. I was going to stick it out. Currently, my deputy and daughter, Veronica, is taking care of the day-to-day office hours. You might remember Veronica. She learned how to read and how to stamp envelopes, helping me stuff tax bill envelopes. It’s a boring job, but something we look forward to doing together every year since that first one in 1998 — yes, I was new during the Ice Storm. Veronica is probably the youngest volunteer the Town of Franklin has ever had. I remember watching her put baked goods out for a community dinner when she could barely see over the table.

Fast forward from 1997 to June 2025. I made the decision not to run for re-election. On Day One, a responsible public servant prepares for their eventual departure. I have done that. As Deputy Clerk for over a decade, an unpaid position, Veronica is working toward her Registered Municipal Clerk certification while revamping the town website, coordinating Summer Youth Program registrations and maintaining a friendly, professional office environment. Technology changes are coming. I did the first tech transition. Two is one more than I want to do.

I thank the Town of Franklin Democratic Party for supporting Veronica’s candidacy for the upcoming November election. I urge everyone to stop by the Town Hall to meet Veronica. She’s raising her four children in the Town of Franklin and understands all the challenges young, working families face, as well as the statutory changes coming down the pike for technology compliance requirements for municipal governments in New York State.

I also thank Veronica for stepping up and jumping in. It’s difficult for a mom to accept help from their child. Thank you for having your own ideas, goals and direction for the Town Clerk position.

I thank you, Town of Franklin residents, for allowing me the honor of serving you all these years. I hope I’ve done something to make you smile or make your life easier in some way. I have so many favorite taxpayers, including Alex Dame, Lindsay Anderson, Jill Lintner and Dan Sullivan. I will miss our January chats.

In closing, the Town of Franklin is in a great place. The supervisor and town board have exciting plans for 2026 and beyond. I urge all of you to check out our Facebook and website to stay up on everything.

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Lauren LeFebvre Town Clerk Town of Franklin