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Town Clerk

Town Clerk

Laura Swarthout    Email: [email protected]     

    

Deputy Town Clerk(s)

Chelsie Slater         Email: [email protected] 

Chelsey Chappell   Email: [email protected]

                                        

Location: 137 Main Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527

Hours of operation:

  • Monday - Thursday: 8 AM - 4 PM
  • Friday: 8 AM - 12 PM

Phone: (315) 536-8911

Fax: (315) 536-9760

Town Clerk Biography

Laura Swarthout was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Mass Media Studies from Edinboro University in 2009.

After relocating to Penn Yan in 2018, Laura continued a career spanning more than 15 years in management, customer service, and public-facing administration. For several years, she served as the Tasting and Events Manager at Hazlitt Vineyards on Seneca Lake before choosing to pursue a career in local government.

Laura began her local government service in 2022 as Deputy Clerk for the Town of Jerusalem. In addition to her responsibilities in the Clerk’s Office, she served as Secretary to the Town’s Zoning Board of Appeals, gaining valuable experience in municipal operations, public records, meeting procedures, land-use administration, and resident services.

In June 2025, Laura joined the Town of Milo as Deputy Clerk and was appointed Town Clerk and Registrar in February 2026. Through these positions, she has developed extensive experience in records management, licensing, tax collection, water and sewer billing and collection, vital records and statistics, meeting administration, public communications, and the daily operation of a municipal clerk’s office.

Laura combines practical local government experience with a strong customer-service background. She is committed to maintaining accurate and accessible public records while providing efficient, dependable, friendly, and responsive service to residents and visitors.

Laura resides in the Town of Milo with her husband, Jeffrey, a lifelong Penn Yan resident and veteran of the United States Air Force; their young son, Theodore; and their Golden Retriever, Charlie. She is proud to serve the community that she and her family call home and love. 

Mission and Responsibilities

The mission of the Office of the Town Clerk is to provide professional, quality service in a prompt, courteous, and cost-effective manner to the residents of this town and to uphold all the responsibilities of this office in the same manner.

The Office of Town Clerk includes many different duties and responsibilities that are contained in various laws of New York State as well as in local laws and other statutes. The following is a brief list of this office's responsibilities:

  • The Town Clerk is custodian of all the records, books and papers of this town.
  • The Town Clerk is designated by state law as the Town's Records Management Officer. As the Town’s Records Management Officer, the Town Clerk coordinates the Town’s Records Management Program.
  • The Town Clerk must attend meetings of the Town Board, act as the clerk thereof, and keep a record of the proceedings of each meeting and public hearing.
  • The Town Clerk records all local laws filed in his/her/their office.
  • The Town Clerk is the filing officer of the town. The following are some of the various documents, papers and records in connection with the operation and administration of town government which are on file in the Town Clerk’s Office:
    • All oaths of office of town and district officers.
    • Original Town Board resolutions.
    • Proofs of all publications and postings of notices where such notices are required.
    • Tentative budget. The finance officer files the tentative budget with the Town Clerk, which after review and modification, if any, by the Town Board becomes the preliminary budget.
    • Annual budget.
    • Annual financial reports of the Supervisor.
    • Audits conducted by the Office of the State Comptroller, or by an independent accounting firm.
    • Notices of decisions of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals of this town.
    • Claims against this town.
    • Public works contracts and bid bonds.
    • Marriage licenses issued and birth and death registrar.
    • Maps adopted in connection with the Zoning Law of this town.
    • Copies of Bingo and/or Games of Chance financial reports.
  • The Town Clerk must issue many types of licenses and permits pursuant to local law and various laws of NYS.
  • The Town Clerk shall also have such powers and duties as may be conferred or imposed upon him/her/them by the Town Board. The Town Clerk is designated as records access officer, license commissioner, registrar, and marriage officer of this town.