Going out ‘on a high note’: Longest-serving City Clerk LaBombard lauded for city work, rail trail

Easthampton City Clerk Barbara LaBombard, who was recognized as the 2024 Clerk of the Year by the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association.

Easthampton City Clerk Barbara LaBombard, who was recognized as the 2024 Clerk of the Year by the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association. contributed

Easthampton City Clerk Barbara LaBombard, who was recognized as the 2024 Clerk of the Year by the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association.

Easthampton City Clerk Barbara LaBombard, who was recognized as the 2024 Clerk of the Year by the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association. contributed

By ALEXA LEWIS

Staff Writer

Published: 02-01-2025 2:30 PM

EASTHAMPTON — After more than 41 years of serving Easthampton, Barbara LaBombard will retire as city clerk and clerk to the City Council at the end of March. LaBombard is not only the longest-serving clerk in the community’s history, but also only the second woman to hold the position, and has taken pride in keeping Easthampton running smoothly while getting to know many of the people who call it home.

During her time in City Hall, she’s watched Easthampton grow from a town to a city, witnessed the legalization of same-sex marriage, and welcomed new technology such as computers and ballot counting systems that have caused the responsibilities of her job to evolve over time.

“When you think about how much has changed since I first walked in the door, it’s pretty amazing,” said LaBombard.

LaBombard, 65, came to western Massachusetts soon after graduating from college in upstate New York, moving to the area to accept a reporting position at the Holyoke Transcript Telegram. After a year of reporting, she decided to leave her media position and quickly found herself moving on to a position as assistant clerk for the town of Easthampton.

Roughly a decade later, LaBombard transitioned into the position of clerk, which was made relatively easy by the expertise she had gained in her time as assistant clerk — learning the ins and outs of managing elections, the annual census, birth and death certificates, and much more.

Now, she has served as city clerk for more than 30 years.

Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle said that she has always been impressed by LaBombard’s grasp on government procedures and her dedication to making those procedures accessible. 

“Barbara was always looking for ways to improve — make government more transparent and efficient,” said LaChapelle. 

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LaChapelle said that while LaBombard’s absence will certainly be felt, she is also leaving behind a sound workplace framework in the clerk’s office for whoever steps into her place. 

Even with an abundance of experience, election years are always a massive undertaking for any clerk’s office. While LaBombard said they have been made easier now that she no longer has to count ballots by hand, it can still be an overwhelming yet rewarding process to work through. After completing yet another successful election cycle in 2024 and gaining statewide recognition as the 2024 Massachusetts Town Clerks Association’s Clerk of the Year, she’s decided it’s a good time to step down.

“I felt like ’24 was a good year for me,” she said. “Sometimes it’s better to go out on a high note.”

For LaBombard, simply working behind the clerk’s desk wasn’t enough to satisfy her service-oriented spirit. Over the years, she has also served as a justice of the peace, officiating at nearly 800 weddings, and also served as a member of the city’s Manhan Rail Trail Committee, with which she plans to continue her involvement after her retirement.

“I think it has to be recognized that without her work … we wouldn’t have the Manhan Rail Trail,” said LaChapelle. “Nobody is going to deny her pivotal lead role in the creation of that rail trail. …  We’ll never look at the rail trail and not think of Barbara LaBombard.”

LaBombard has also dutifully carried out the role of clerk to the City Council, which is not required of the city clerk, but a separate position. However, she said that the two roles complement one another, and she hopes that her successor will choose to take on both as well.

State Rep. Homar Gomez, who until recently served as president of Easthampton’s City Council, recalled his many council meetings spent sitting next to LaBombard — and often asking her procedural questions.

“Every time I had a question, she was there to answer the questions,” said Gomez. “I think the council should realize that they’re going to lose someone with a lot of knowledge. … Whoever replaces her is going to have big shoes to fill.”

Even in retirement, LaBombard hopes to keep busy and find new projects she’s passionate about, while also spending more time with family and taking some extra camping trips.

“I’m always looking for the next adventure,” she said, explaining that she can’t imagine herself just sitting at home. Instead, she’s looking to keep volunteering and helping out however she can in the community.

LaBombard said that she hopes whoever fills her shoes has a firm grasp of the ever-evolving world of technology, as it will make them all the more effective in the clerk position. She also noted that she will be happy to help the new clerk transition into their new position, especially when it comes to guiding them through their first election season.

“They need to be a good people person, too,” she added. “A lot of what we do over the counter is just customer service.”

In fact, she said, that’s the part of the job she’ll miss most — just talking to the Easthampton residents who walk through the door each day.

LaBombard’s retirement will be effective on March 31, and her last day of work will be Thursday, March 27.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.