SALISBURY – The City Clerk of 17 years, Brenda Colegrove, worked her last legislative meeting Monday as she retired on March 1.

“Ms. Colegrove you have been an incredible example of true public service in so many ways to the people of Salisbury, to the council, to the administration, and we are so deeply appreciative of all you have done,” Council President Terry Cohen said. “It gives me a lot of pleasure to be up here with you … we know you will be very happy in whatever you do because we know you were happy in everything that you did here and you are truly an inspiration to all of us.”

Mayor Jim Ireton said that it takes the ability to be a successful communicator, a person of high ethics and value, a person who knows about customer service, a commitment to professional activities and professional development and a calm steward of professionalism in order to be a City Clerk, and that is what Colegrove exhibited every day of the 17 years she worked for the city.

Former City Council President Louise Smith pointed out that Colegrove has received some notable recognition during her career. In 2005, she received the Clerk of the Year award by the Maryland Municipal City Clerks Municipality Association and in 2008 she received the Master Municipal Clerk Designation, which placed her in the elite group of 662 master municipal clerks worldwide.

Smith added that from 2006-2011, not including January and February of this year, Colegrove has accumulated 2,614 hours in comp time from being in the office day after day, month after month, year after year from 7:30 in the morning to some of the time as late as 11 at night.

“Salisbury has been privileged to have Brenda Colegrove these 17 years,” she said. “Thank you Brenda for your tireless efforts, your support, your encouragement. I say this on behalf of all elected officials, you will be greatly missed and from one retiree to a future retiree, retirement is wonderful, you will enjoy it. We are all happy for you and congratulations.”