One of the greatest perks of being North Hempstead’s Town Clerk is the opportunity to attend so many different community events. I get to meet people and see all the good things that are happening around town.
Unsurprisingly, the single most asked question of me is this: “So what exactly does the Town Clerk do?” Well, I am here to explain the role of the Town Clerk, hence the title of this column “Did You Know? From the Desk of Wayne Wink.” I hope you will join me each month as we delve a little deeper into our different initiatives.
The role of the Town Clerk’s Office is to preserve historical documents and vital records of North Hempstead. Our office hosts a great variety of duties and responsibilities contained mainly in Town Law §30, as well as other statutes.
The Town Clerk oversees three offices: the Office of the Town Clerk, Office of the Registrar and the Records Management Center.
The Town Clerk issues New York State licenses and permits including marriage, dogs, conservation (hunting and fishing), and games of chance/bingo. The Clerk also issues town licenses and permits mandated by Local Law such as peddlers, Taxi/Limousine/Tow, Solid Waste and Second-hand goods.
Applications for underground storage tanks, permits for filming in the town, as well as for Block Parties and Parades are also accepted in our office. Although under Federal regulation, our office offers a full-service Passport Service Center where we can assist in the entire process of making or renewing a US Passport, including photo services.
Birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage licenses are maintained in the Registrar’s Office. Currently, we are the largest Registrar on Long Island. However, we are in the process of becoming the Registrar for Winthrop Hospital, which has been historically handled by the Village of Mineola.
This will make our Registrar’s Office one of the largest in the State of New York. Couples who come to apply for marriage licenses can also make an appointment to have a civil ceremony with us. On clear days, the ceremony takes place at the Instagram-worthy gazebo at Mary J. Davies Green across the street from our office.
Until the late 18th century, the town clerk would keep town documents at home. Now, archival records are kept at the Office of the Town Clerk in a temperature-controlled vault as well as in our 5500 cubic foot Records Center.
We allow the same easy access of documents to the public whether the document is from the pre-Revolutionary War period or from contemporary times. Genealogical Research services are available upon written request with applicable fees.
The Town of North Hempstead vests the Clerk with the responsibility of recording Town Board meeting minutes and public hearings. We maintain records of adopted town ordinances and local laws, Town Oaths of Office, resignations, petitions, proof of publications, annual budgets, assessment rolls, fiscal reports, subpoena and court actions, bonds/notes registers, zoning ordinances, and maps.
Every year, my office sponsors the Annual May W. Newburger Women’s Roll of Honor, Valentine’s Day Renewal of the Vows Ceremony and organizes the town’s solemn 9/11 Memorial Ceremony. The main mission of my role is to serve as a bridge between the residents of North Hempstead and our local government, just as we have for centuries.
This recap is just a small glimpse into what our multi-faceted office provides for our town government and to our public. Please join me each month as we will go more in-depth about the various services we provide in the Town Clerk’s Office. After all, at the end of the day, we are here to serve you and my office is here to assist you.
