Town Clerk

Many Duties of the Town Clerk

The Office of the Town Clerk is historical in its traditions, having served as a direct link between the residents and their local governments since Biblical times. While the Town Clerk is generally credited with issuing licenses, that is only a small part of this complex job. Many duties are mandated by law, but many more go well beyond those mandates as the Town Clerk serves as a major source of information to all. Additionally, the Town Clerk is appointed as the Registrar of Vital Statistics. In this capacity, the birth and death records which are issued within the Town of Hyde Park are kept by the Town Clerk.

Custodian of Town Records

The Town Clerk is the custodian of all Town records, responsible for active files, storage, and disposition of inactive records and the careful maintenance of archival material, and the Records Access Officer for the town for Freedom Of Information requests. 

Maintained Records

The following are maintained by the Town Clerk:

• Annual Budgets
• Assessment Rolls
• Bonds/Notes Registers
• Fiscal Reports
• Maps
• Petitions
• Proof of Publications
• Records of adopted Town Ordinances and Local Laws
• Resignations
• Subpoena and Court Actions
• Town Oaths of Office

Responsibilities also include maintaining public signboard, advertising and receiving bids for the purchase of Town materials and filing burial permits from cemeteries located within the Town.

Clerk of the Town Board

The Town Clerk is the Clerk of the Town Board and is the author of Minutes Books, the only official record of the Business Meetings of the Town Board. The resulting volumes are retained permanently for legal and historical purposes.

Photocopies of the minutes of Town Board meetings are available for a fee of $.25 per page or online for no charge on our Agendas and Minutes page.

Issuance's

The Town Clerk issues state licenses/permits including:

• Accessible Parking Permit for those with severe disabilities
• Bingo 
• Conservation (Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping)
• Dog
• Games of Chance
• Marriage

The Town Clerk also issues town licenses/permits mandated by Local Law such as:

• Hawking and Peddling Permits
• Mobile Home Parks
• Refuse Collectors
• Salvage Yards
• Town Parking Permits
• Used Car Dealers

State Regulation

In accordance with State regulations, the Town Clerk coordinates and oversees Special Town Elections, permissive or mandatory referendums and Town acquisition of property.

Funds

The Town Clerk is responsible for numerous duties relating to billing and the collection and disbursement of funds. All incoming cash is recorded and disbursed to State, County, and local Fiscal Officers. The Town Clerk also contributes to departmental budget preparation, management of petty cash, and assisting with State and internal audits.