CELORON Shirley A. Sanfilippo, Celoron village clerk, was in for quite a surprise Monday evening.
During the Celoron Village Board's regular meeting, about 20 unexpected guests arrived to see Mrs. Sanfilippo. The guests were members of her family on hand to congratulate her for being named New York State Clerk of the Year from the state Association of City and Village Clerks.
John Keeney, Celoron mayor, read a proclamation from village officials praising Mrs. Sanfilippo's accomplishment.
Article Photos
Shirley A. Sanfilippo, Celoron village clerk, and John Keeney, Celoron mayor.
P-J photo by Dennis Phillips
''This award is well earned and well deserved,'' Keeney said.
Mrs. Sanfilippo said it was a very humbling experience to be recognized for her work.
''It was a great honor to be recognized by my peers,'' she said.
As far as the around 20 relatives who showed up to applaud the achievement, which included her husband, three children and grandchildren, she said it was a surprise.
''I started recognizing cars through the window as they were pulling into the parking lot,'' she said about her family surprising her at the meeting.
Mrs. Sanfilippo has also been recognized as a credentialed municipal finance officer by the New York State Society of Municipal Finance Officers for achieving its high educational, experience and participatory requirements. She has been employed by the village of Celoron as village clerk and treasurer for three years and has been a member in good standing of the state Society of Municipal Finance Officers for the same period of time.
The credentialed municipal finance officer program was launched in 2006. The program aids municipal finance officers in improving job performance and recognizes the professionalism of the municipalities' finance office. Stringent education and experience requirements must be met before this prestigious designation of credentialed municipal finance officer is awarded.
The New York State Society of Municipal Finance Officers was founded in 1956 and currently has a membership of more than 400 members across the state. Sanfilippo is the first clerk in Chautauqua County to receive the credential from the state Society of Municipal Finance Officers.
The fall cleanup for the village will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13.