Avalon Promotes Berardis to Municipal Clerk

Avalon — Avalon Deputy Municipal Clerk Georgann Berardis was sworn in by Mayor Martin Pagliughi to the position of Municipal Clerk during the Wednesday, Jan. 29 meeting of the Avalon Borough Council. Berardis replaces Amy Kleuskens as Municipal Clerk who retired after 25 years of service to the Borough. Berardis assumes the title of Municipal Clerk on February 1st, 2014. Mayor Pagliughi also swore in Teresa Dowe to the position of Deputy Municipal Clerk during the meeting.
“I want to personally thank Amy for her longtime dedication to serving the people of Avalon during her tenure as Municipal Clerk”, Mayor Pagliughi said. “Amy and her staff have set the standard for how a municipal clerk’s office should operate and I wish her and her husband Dan many happy and healthy years during retirement”.
Kleuskens began her service to the Borough of Avalon in 1988 when she was hired as a Deputy Municipal Clerk under former clerk Betty Goble; her job interview was conducted by Mayor Pagliughi when he served as a member of Borough Council. She was promoted to the position of Municipal Clerk and Registrar for the Borough of Avalon on July 1, 1993. During her tenure, many additional duties were absorbed by the clerk’s office including registrations for Bay Park Marina and the Avalon Sport Fishing Center, newspaper vending licenses, along with public transportation licensing. Additionally, her office is responsible for all municipal records, Council agendas, ordinances and resolutions, marriage licenses, records management, and elections.
Kleuskens has been a longtime member of the Cape May County Clerks Association and served as its president during 1996. She also is a member of the New Jersey Municipal Clerk’s Association. During her tenure, the Avalon Municipal Clerk’s Office has revamped its filing system, conducted a complete overhaul and organization of historical records, and initiated the move to an online records retention system.
“I want to thank the Avalon residents and property owners for their friendship and support over the past 25 years”, Kleuskens said. “The Avalon community is tremendous, very interesting, and diverse. It’s been an honor to serve the Borough as Municipal Clerk and I look forward to spending more time with my family”.
Berardis lives in Dennis Township and joined the Avalon Municipal Clerk’s office in April, 2008. In 2013, Berardis successfully completed the New Jersey Registered Municipal Clerk training program and completed courses involving all aspects of a Municipal Clerk’s office including elections, records management, and municipal finance. “Georgann joined our office five and a half years ago and has a fantastic work ethic along with skills that include problem solving and good judgment”, Kleuskens said. “She enjoys working with people and she looks forward to the opportunity to serving the Borough as Municipal Clerk”.