Holyoke City Clerk Susan Egan vows return to work soon after illness

Egan said most of her time from work has been prescheduled vacation.

HOLYOKE – Longtime City Clerk Susan M. Egan said Wednesday she has been ill with a stomach ulcer and weakness in her left leg, but expects to return to work at City Hall next month.

“I’m definitely coming back. I’m just waiting until I’m strong enough,” said Egan, 63.

Egan has been clerk for 20 years. It is an elected position and she said she will retire after her current, four-year term expires after next year.

The city clerk’s yearly salary is $71, 832.

Egan has been out of work since June, but most of that has been pre-arranged vacation for the weeks of July 2 and 9, she said.

On July 4, she said, she felt what seemed to be severe heartburn

“I didn’t know what was happening to me, but all I knew was I couldn’t take the pain anymore from the heartburn,” Egan said.

She went to the hospital, and while her heart was fine, an ulcer in her stomach was determined to be the cause of the pain. That is being treated, said Egan, who also said a weak left leg is improving with therapy.

She will see her primary care physician Aug. 7 and she believes she will return to work later in August, she said.

“They did tell me, when I do go back, it will only be, for one to two weeks, half-days,” Egan said.

She speaks by phone daily with city clerk staff. Assistant City Clerk Louise K. Bisson is in charge in her absence, she said.

Mayor Alex B. Morse said he was glad to hear Egan was recovering.

“I look forward to having Sue back at City Hall and I thank the support staff in the City Clerk’s office, particularly Assistant Clerk Louise Bisson for stepping up during Sue’s absence throughout the last month,” Morse said.

“If it becomes clear at some point that she is not able to return and perform the full duties of an elected city clerk, we can revisit the conversation at that time,” he said.

Egan invoked a famous line from U.S. Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur in dismissing rumors she has heard about her absence. One rumor was that she was so ill she might be committed to a hospital, she said, and another was she will otherwise not return to the city clerk’s office, which could prompt a City Council vote for a temporary replacement.

“So if the rumors out there are that I’m not coming back, that’s not true. I will be back. They can’t get rid of me. Like MacArthur said, ‘I shall return,’” Egan said.

MacArthur uttered the phrase that has become synonomous with him in 1942 during World War II. It was in reference to his promise to restore U.S. forces to liberate the Phillipines from the Japanese Imperial Army, which was achieved by April 1945.

The city clerk is the official keeper of municipal records. This includes birth, death and marriage certificates. Newly formed businesses are supposed to register with the clerk’s office. The clerk also issues dog licenses.

The clerk is clerk of the City Council, preparing the agenda and keeping records of council meetings, such as recording votes. The city clerk also is clerk of elections and the city’s registrar of voters.