Williard part of city support system
Williard said her department works behind the scenes to make assist other city departments.
It’s no secret that Madison has a strong city government, and behind that successful government is an even stronger support staff.
The city clerk’s office is the pillar that provides assistance to all city departments.
As city clerk, Melanie Williard is tasked with preparing council agendas, minutes, attending all city meetings and work sessions and keeping up with all records that pertain to general city business. She handles cemetery records such as deeds and paperwork for the purchase for lots. If city council members have to travel out of town for business, it is Williard’s department that handles the transportation and hotel accommodations.
“We just try to be helpful to everyone and get what they need as quickly as possible” Williard said. “What we do is mostly behind the scenes. We are the support folks.
She said her job duties change form day to day.
“One day, I could be getting everyone ready for a meeting, and the next week I could be cleaning things up,” she said. “In between that, I may have to get someone a copy of a city ordinance.”
Williard’s department stays busy. That’s why she has three full-time employees and two part-time receptionists who work with her.
The department keeps both electronic and paper copies of records. She said 99.9 percent of those records are open to the public.
She also deals with municipal elections. She’s in charge of finding poll workers, making sure the ballots are printed properly and the general overall administration.
Her position also doubles as city treasurer. She oversees the city’s funds and makes sure they are deposited in the correct accounts.
“This is all a team effort,” she said. “I don’t by any stretch do it by myself. I have good folks with me and we do it together.”
Williard moved to Madison from Pennsylvania in October of 1988, where she worked for the city clerk as a stenographer.
“At that time everything was in one office,” she said. “As the city grew everything departmentalized out.”
Williard remembers that when she moved to Madison, the census was 14,000 people and Hughes Road only had two lanes.
“Just like everyone says, it’s a medium-sized city with a small town feel,” she said. “I don’t know many of cities that close down a major street for a high school parade. That is what makes Madison special.”
