Longtime Pine Plains Town Clerk Judy Harpp retires after 33 years of service

PINE PLAINS — Described as the “face of Pine Plains,” by her one-time boss and longtime friend, current Chair of the Dutchess County Legislature Gregg Pulver (R-19), who for 12 years also served as Pine Plains town supervisor, Judy Harpp officially served the last of her 33 years as Pine Plains town clerk on Aug. 15. 

It was 33 years well spent, said Harpp, a Republican who describes herself as a “people person,” which is a real plus for someone who is the point person of an entire town.

“I enjoyed the job,” said Harpp last week, after she had a few days to reflect on her new life of leisure. “I like people.”

It seems more than evident from the past three-plus decades that people like her, too. 

After all, Harpp had not only answered phones at and given directions to and from the Pine Plains Town Hall as part of her job as town clerk; she issued hunting, dog and all sorts of licenses; performed weddings and issued death certificates; researched genealogy (a personal hobby); not to mention publicly noticed and taken minutes at every Town Board meeting, public hearing and special meeting on record during her tenure while providing board members and town attorneys with all of the requisite reading materials, applications, legal files and any other necessary paperwork for them to base their decisions on while keeping the community both in the loop and under control during what could sometimes be both contentious and even raucous public meetings. 

The amazing thing is that no matter the circumstance, as town clerk, Judy Harpp always managed to stay in control despite having a very petite frame; some attribute it to her endearing personality, sharp wit and constant smile.

“She was the face of Pine Plains — there’s no if’s and’s or but’s about that,” said Pulver. “Anybody who came in, she was who they wanted to see. Everybody thinks the town supervisor is the most important position in town; it’s important, but Judy was the most important position in town. She was probably the most important person in town government… She was a true public servant… it’s going to be a huge hole to fill, no doubt about it.”

Current town Supervisor Darrah Cloud, a Democrat, who is serving her second term and therefore worked with Harpp for about three-and-a-half years, agreed with Pulver.

“She is the person,” said Cloud, strenuously emphasizing the “the.” 

Cloud added without any ego, that if residents moved out of town and returned to visit, they would stop by Town Hall, specifically to see Harpp.

“A lot of people would come by the office to visit her,” she said. “I just feel like she was kind of the keeper of the flame here.”

If not for a rather “pushy” Rosie Chase and Virginia Kemp, said Harpp, she would never have been town clerk in the first place. That’s because 33 years ago, the previous town clerk, M. Pat Blakney, announced she was retiring, and the Town Board needed to find a candidate in order to appoint a replacement. 

Somehow, said Harpp, they had settled on her. At the time she was waitressing and driving a school bus for the Pine Plains Central School District, both of which she enjoyed doing.

“I don’t remember the previous clerk’s party,” she said, “but then I won eight or nine consecutive elections.”

She remembered fondly teasing her late husband, Robert, who was the former highway superintendent in town for many years, that she would earn more votes than him during town elections. The two had an easy rapport that kept things light at monthly board meetings. When Bob passed away in February of 2010 it was difficult on not only the Harpp family but the town of Pine Plains and its entire community.

But the town wanted to focus on happy moments last week, when it looked at all Judy had done for not only the municipality but the people of Pine Plains. That’s why Cloud and everyone at Town Hall decided to surprise her with a send-off party at the Backyard Garden on Church Street on Thursday, Aug. 19. And even though she had dedicated 33 years of hard work to her job, Harpp said she had no idea a party in her honor had been planned.

“Stunned, I had absolutely no idea. I’m not a big surprise party person; I don’t like to be the center of attention, I thought they all knew that. I know my family all knows that,” she said. “I told my grandson I was retiring. When my grandson told me he wanted to take me out to dinner, I said that sounds nice. I had no clue; I was actually dumbfounded.”

Which was part of the fun.

“They gave me a beautiful crystal vase with a plaque on the bottom that says, ‘In honor of Judy Harpp for a lifetime of service to the town of Pine Plains,’ and a large bouquet of flowers and a party with a vanilla cake with a boat with a ‘gone fishin’ tag.”

Harpp said it was “a really wonderful experience” being town clerk, and that she “loved helping everyone out” while she was on the job.

“I hope to see most of them around town,” she added. 

Madeline Chase DaFoe is now the new town clerk; she has asked Harpp to remain temporarily as her deputy town clerk while she learns the ropes. Harpp agreed, but said she doesn’t plan to remain at
Town Hall for too long. She said 33 years, while great, has been long enough.

Soon, Harpp hopes to be able to travel, as the world health situation allows. She most looks forward to returning to northern Ireland, where her family is from, as well as traveling to Amish Country in Pennsylvania.