Corinne Rainville, the town clerk since 1994, has announced her retirement, a year before her term ends, so the Board of Selectmen voted Monday, Feb. 1, to advertise the position and not hold a special election.

The clerk's office first believed the position would be added to the ballot for the April town election for a one-year term, but advice to selectmen from town counsel threw that into question.

Selectmen are expected to make the appointment Monday, Feb. 22.

Stephanie Lucarelli, the assistant town clerk, said Feb. 2 that she had applied. Wicked Local reported Feb. 4 that Michele Meagher, former executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, has written selectmen, asking for the seat, and that Selectman Jack Hurd has expressed interest.

In e-mails Jan. 29, Juliana Rice, the town counsel, wrote that a special election does not have to be called, but selectmen may choose to call a special election to fill the remainder of Rainville's term, which expires in April 2011.

"Rather than call a special election, the Board of Selectmen may choose to appoint a Temporary Clerk to fill the remainder of Ms. Rainville's term," she wrote.

She cited as the source for this advice Mass. General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 1.

In a Jan. 21 e-mail, Marie Krepelka, the selectmen's administrator, wrote that Rainville had notified selectmen that she would be leaving the position April 19.

Rainville has been out of the office since Friday, Jan. 21. The clerk's office said she was out the week of Jan. 25. Phone calls to her home from YourArlington seeking comment about why she is retiring were not returned.

She did comment for an Advocate story, which does not appear to be online, but did not say exactly why she is retiring, except to comment that she is "done."

The Advocate reported that two employees of the clerk's office had taken out nomination papers, but this was before Rice's advice, which selectmen must discuss. 

Rainville, 63, has worked for the town since 1981. She was the assistant town clerk before she became the clerk. She also worked as a Head Start teacher.

This story was first reported on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010, and updated Feb. 4.