Clerk serves as conduit between town, public
Linda Cottrell plans retirement from Freehold Borough
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer

Linda Cottrell

FREEHOLD - One of Freehold Borough's most well-respected employees will bid farewell on Feb. 1 after 15 years with the municipality.

Municipal Clerk Linda Cottrell, 62, has made the decision to retire and although her coworkers are happy for her, they are not hesitant about stating how much they will miss her presence at Borough Hall.

Cottrell has been the municipal clerk since 2000.

Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina, who has worked closely with Cottrell, said her pending retirement is a bittersweet experience for him.

"The 'bitter' part is that selfish part of me that knows I'm going to lose a great working buddy," Bellina said. "The 'sweet' part is that she is young enough and healthy enough to enjoy a happy, healthy retirement with her husband, her children and her grandchildren. She deserves nothing less, only more."

Bellina said that by the very nature of her position as the municipal clerk, Cottrell has served as the representative on behalf of the Borough Council to the public.

"No person is more aptly qualified to do that," Bellina said. "Linda has always exercised a tremendous amount of patience, professionalism and compassion in her job. And she has always done her job with a great deal of class," Bellina said. "The past seven-and-a-half years went far too fast for me, but I have seven-and-a-half years of a joyful relationship, which will produce a lifetime of memories for me. They don't come any nicer than Linda Cottrell."

Cottrell, a resident of Freehold Township, has worked at several occupations during her professional life, including dental assistant and certified social worker.

Born in Neptune, she attended Freehold High School, (then called Freehold Regional High School), married her husband, Jack, and spent quite a few years at home caring for the couple's six children and working at part-time jobs over the years.

Cottrell moved back into the job force on a regular basis in 1992. She took a job as the assistant welfare director for Freehold Borough, working under the tutelage of then welfare director Dolores Gibson. She also served as deputy registrar, again under Gibson who served as registrar at the time.

During this time period Cottrell earned an associate degree in paralegal services and applied science from Brookdale Community College, Lincroft.

In 1993 Cottrell became the borough's welfare director and she remained in that position until 1998. She was in charge of the borough's small food bank at the old police station on Bennett Street.

Gibson eventually became Freehold Borough's municipal clerk, and when she retired, Cottrell moved into that position in 2000.

Dealing with the public is a big part of the municipal clerk's job, and Cottrell said relating to people has always been the best part of all the positions she has held in town. Dealing with the paperwork just came with the territory.

The municipal clerk's job involves issuing licenses, working with elections, ordinances and resolutions, acting as secretary to the municipal corporation and being the custodian of the municipal seal, minutes, books, deeds, contracts and records. She prepares meeting agendas, keeps a journal of all proceedings of meetings and serves as the chief administrative officer in all elections.

In addition to working with the public, Cottrell said she has enjoyed working with individuals like Bellina and Mayor Michael Wilson. She said she considers herself very lucky to have worked with Bellina, Wilson and the members of the Borough Council over the years.

"We are going to miss her,"Wilson said of Cottrell. "She's one of the most dedicated employees I have seen in my time in office. Not only has she handled all of her duties with professionalism, but she has always been a true lady."

Cottrell said she has enjoyed working with community organizations, the police department, attorneys, restaurant owners and other business owners.

Cottrell functions as the link between the governing body and the public.

"It's a lot of public relations. This is the best part of the job and I can honestly say that I have never been bored in this job," she said.

Cottrell said she is looking forward to spending more time with her husband, six children and four grandchildren, who range in age from 7 months to 13 years old.

Cottrell said that over the years the people she has worked with became like her family.

"We all work together and each of our jobs depends on the other. We have welcomed and celebrated babies and we have shared sorrows as well," she said.