Marty McInturf in her busy Moraga office Photo Sophie Braccini
Moraga's new Town Clerk, Marty McInturf, is an offspring of Lamorinda and although she now lives in Pleasant Hill she says that working here feels like coming home. McInturf, a Miramonte graduate, even gets the opportunity to share a lunchtime sandwich with her father, who lives just a few blocks away from the Town's offices.
But the workload in Moraga is not one that leaves a lot of family time. Between long Friday evenings putting together the packets for the Council meetings and extended nights spent at Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School where the meetings take place, it takes a lot of passion and a love of clerical work to find the job fulfillment that McInturf has achieved.
McInturf has lived many professional lives. Before becoming Moraga's Town Clerk, she was a part-time elected clerk in Pleasant Hill, a self-employed real estate agent, the Director of the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce, and an event planner at the Claremont Hotel.
"I have seen the advantages and pitfalls of different types of economic activities," says the Clerk, "the efficiency of private business, but also some lack of transparency; the altruism of non-profit, but its need for constant fund-raising; and finally government that's run by many rules and regulations, but where processes and decisions are open to public scrutiny."
And it is in the City Clerk world that McInturf has found her true place. "When I go to City Clerk conferences, I find myself in rooms full of people like me," says McInturf, "people who like to help, people who like people, and people who pay great attention to details...this is me," says McInturf, "and I'm so happy to have found the job I wanted in the town I wanted. Sometimes, things in life just click."
Her boss, Town Manager Mike Segrest, also believes that the fit is great, "Marty's experience and positive attitude allowed her to step into the Town Clerk position and immediately demonstrate a capable dedication to serving the community."
"We're fortunate to have Marty on board with the Town," adds Mayor Dave Trotter. "Marty has handled her duties as Town Clerk to date in a very professional manner, and as Mayor I've enjoyed working with her."
Moraga is no cakewalk for staff. "I am lucky to get some volunteer help," says McInturf, referring to the Moraga Movers who have come to help, and the half day she gets from the police department's cadet, "but I could use even more."
McInturf would like to have more time for reforms and people, she wants to see herself as a hub for the town residents: "I love to interact with people," she says, "and they call or come to see me all the time with all sorts of requests."
Residents call her to complain about a neighbor, to inquire about events, resolutions, or about planning issues. "I need to be totally connected with everything that's going on in town and I'm getting there," says the Clerk who started her job four months ago and hasn't had a lot of time to catch her breath. "The fact that the Council will not meet in August is a good thing for staff, it will give me time to catch up," she adds. McInturf has ideas on how to improve organization and processes; the issue is to find the time and resources to implement them.
"I have started to scan and file online, with a volunteer, all the resolutions that were passed by the Council over the past years," explains McInturf, "my objective would be to have more information available on a more user friendly web site to improve the public's access to town facts."
But the workload in Moraga is not one that leaves a lot of family time. Between long Friday evenings putting together the packets for the Council meetings and extended nights spent at Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School where the meetings take place, it takes a lot of passion and a love of clerical work to find the job fulfillment that McInturf has achieved.
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA