AMANDA HAGGSTROM
New Town Clerk
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Select Board recently voted to appoint Amesbury City Clerk Amanda Haggstrom to the vacant town clerk position.
Haggstrom will be succeeding retired Town Clerk Linda Emerson on Tuesday, Sept. 5. She has been Amesbury’s city clerk since October 2020. Haggstrom previously served as the administrative assistant to former Amesbury City Clerk Christine Dixon.
Select Board Chairman Joe Connell said Town Administrator Rob Dolan, Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin, Town Accountant/Assistant Finance Director Julie McCarthy and Town Moderator Joe Markey interviewed prospective candidates for the town clerk job. He said the four officials recommended that the Select Board interview Haggstrom and Amesbury Assistant City Clerk Jennifer Smith for the position.
Over the course of the two interviews, the Select Board asked Haggstrom and Smith to each answer five questions.
Connell inquired why Haggstrom applied for the Lynnfield town clerk job. He also asked her to describe her past experience.
Haggstrom said the Lynnfield and Amesbury communities are similar in size.
“Amesbury has a really friendly and small town feel even though it is a city,” said Haggstrom. “I feel as though Lynnfield has that while having commercial industry as well. I love the fact that the Lynnfield Town Clerk’s Office has a lot of technology and software that I don’t have in my role right now. I bring the work ethic, the knowledge and the motivation from Amesbury. To have technology and software added in with that is just a win-win. I think I can really help Lynnfield.”
Haggstrom said she is “confident, loyal, motivated and goal-orientated.”
“I love starting new projects to try and make things better in my community,” said Haggstrom. “I do everything I can to bring old practices into the future and make things better. I am very personable as well. I get along with my colleagues and I try to make every day a great day.”
Select Board member Dick Dalton asked Haggstrom to give an overview of her “management style and approach to customer service.”
“I think all of my staff currently and the staff who have left for various reasons would all say that I am a very generous, understanding and caring boss,” said Haggstrom. “I understand that everyone is different. I treat all of my staff members as individuals. Everyone has individual needs and skill sets, and things going on in their lives. I think it’s important to treat employees with respect. I don’t run my office with an iron fist, but I do expect things to be done a certain way and work to be done to a certain level. As long as people are getting their work done in a great way, I can work with them, be flexible and we can have a great relationship.”
Haggstrom said she knows Lynnfield Assistant Town Clerk Susan Lagorio after they “worked in several capacities in Amesbury together.”
“Susan is amazing,” said Haggstrom. “I think we would make a great team. We already have an established and trusting relationship.”
Dalton also asked Haggstrom how she has “managed conflicts” with staff members and the public.
Haggstrom said her office is located in the front of Amesbury City Hall.
“Whenever I am training someone new, I always say that most people who are coming into City Hall are not coming in to praise you,” said Haggstrom. “They are coming in because they have an issue. We always want to make sure we take care of them. We have a couple of challenging residents who are not the biggest fans of the mayor, and those two people often come in and just go off. I am kind of able to be that middle barrier in between. I just smile and know that I am not the person who is on the other end of that attack. I try to mitigate things a bit and make things a little bit more pleasant for them.”
Select Board member Phil Crawford asked Haggstrom about her experience with overseeing elections.
Haggstrom said she has worked in the Amesbury City Clerk’s Office for almost seven years.
“I helped my clerk and assistant clerk with elections for my first three years,” said Haggstrom. “My clerk gave her notice in August 2020 before we had a big state election coming up in September. I really stepped up and took charge of the office, and led us through that 2020 state election with minimal experience. I wound up getting appointed as city clerk a month later in October because of my leadership skills and how successful the election was. Ever since then, I have gone to all of the different training programs that are available. I am in the process of getting certified as a municipal clerk. I know how to do vote-by-mail and early voting. I think it’s important for the candidate that you choose to have current and relevant experience because election laws are changing. They have changed drastically since I started seven years ago, and you really need to know what is going on.”
Crawford also asked how Haggstrom has been “coping” with the state’s new elections laws.
Haggstrom said the new election laws have resulted in a lot of “unfunded mandates.”
“I have done a great job the last few years making sure that I submit my cost surveys to the Department of Revenue and the Division of Local Services to try and get as much money back for my community for these unfunded mandates,” said Haggstrom. “I was successful last year with getting about $13,000 back to the community. I have done all of this no poll count technology and high-speed scanners. Lynnfield has those things. I think it will be easier and more efficient in Lynnfield.”
Connell asked about the types of technology the Amesbury City Clerk’s Office use.
Haggstrom said the office uses accounting software and Microsoft Office.
“We also use the systems that are provided to us by the state,” added Haggstrom.
Dalton asked if there was anything else Haggstrom wanted the Select Board to know before they voted to appoint the next town clerk.
Haggstrom said she is very motivated.
“Becoming a clerk has been one of the most challenging, but greatest accomplishments of my life so far,” said Haggstrom. “I really take pride in my position, the importance of the work that I do and helping my community. It would be great for me to come here. I am really excited about this opportunity.”
Dalton said Haggstrom and fellow finalist, Amesbury Assistant City Clerk Jennifer Smith, were “excellent candidates.” He thanked Dolan, Curtin, McCarthy and Markey for bringing both women forward as finalists.
“I would come down on the side of selecting Amanda Haggstrom,” said Dalton. “She is the president of the Essex County Municipal Clerks Association. She is very interested in furthering her career.”
Crawford agreed.
“I think two great candidates were brought forward,” said Crawford. “I liked Amanda. She is confident and I think she is an up-and-coming star. She is at the beginning of her career, working on her education and has gotten some great accolades. The one thing she has going for her is she is the sitting clerk in Amesbury because they decided to make her the clerk. There is a lot to be said about that.”
Connell said he was impressed by Haggstrom’s knowledge of new election laws.
After the discussion, the Select Board unanimously voted to appoint Haggstrom as Lynnfield’s next town clerk.