The Village of Riverside Board of Trustees voted Feb. 20 to appoint Emily Stenzel as village clerk and administered the oath of office during the meeting.

The appointment resolution, introduced by President Pollock, passed on a voice/roll-call vote; Deputy Clerk Francis recorded trustees voting Aye. Manager Francis told the board that Stenzel started with the village as an intern, became fiscal assistant, and was reclassified in January as a management analyst before applying for the village clerk position. "She stood head and shoulders above all the other candidates that we considered," Manager Francis said.

The nut graf: The board used a resolution to formalize the promotion and follow local hiring procedures; the swearing-in took place immediately after the vote. Stenzel began serving effective Feb. 20 and will carry out statutory and administrative duties of the village clerk’s office.

Stenzel took the oath of office in open session. President Pollock introduced the resolution authorizing the village president and board to appoint Stenzel; a trustee moved and the motion was seconded and approved by roll call. After the vote President Pollock and Stenzel came to the podium for the formal oath.

Manager Francis provided additional context on Stenzel’s background: she began as an intern with the Village of Riverside, served as fiscal assistant, was reclassified in January as a management analyst and applied for the village clerk position and special assistant to administration and finance. He also noted Stenzel is completing a master’s of public administration with anticipated graduation in spring 2025.

The board also confirmed other routine appointments and upcoming meeting dates during the president’s report. The clerk’s nameplate replacement and brief congratulatory remarks concluded the segment.

The appointment does not change any recorded ordinances or enacted policy beyond effecting the clerk position; the board recorded the vote and entered the new clerk into the official minutes.