Matthews town clerk to retire this month

Matthews Town Clerk Jill Pleimann is retiring at the end of December, but that doesn’t mean she plans to slow down. She’s counting on having more time for hobbies, volunteering and her four children and six grandchildren.

“The joke around my house is that planting flowers is what I do in the spring and summer, and then, in the fall and winter, I go inside and I paint flowers.

“I also plan to volunteer. I’m not worried about staying busy. My children and grandchildren aren’t going to let me just sit around.” Pleimann said.

The 76-year-old native of England joined the town in 1991 as a receptionist and was promoted to town clerk in 1993.

During her tenure she has worked with three mayors and four town managers in four town hall locations.

Though her primary responsibility as clerk was to keep accurate town records and meeting minutes, everyone who knows Pleimann knows her skills and talents reach much further.

“You will not find a better ambassador for the town. She enjoys serving the town and she has represented the town wonderfully with her caring, professional demeanor,” said Matthews Mayor Jim Taylor. “When you come to Town Hall, you can see she enjoys her job and helping people.”

For years Pleimann decorated, or oversaw decoration, of the Town Hall Christmas tree. She answered countless phone calls, worked with Matthews Alive in the early years, arranged food for meetings and put together other special events.

She’s guided hundreds of schoolchildren on tours of Town Hall, helped paint the Post Office mural and once held a microphone and acted as tour guide for a bus full of retirees from Charlotte curious about the landmarks in their neighboring southern town.

Pleimann served on the town’s Historic Preservation Committee and Postal Advisory Committee.

One of her fondest, and most hectic, memories was the time she pulled off a tour and afternoon tea for 40 extra out-of-town visitors with less than two hours notice. She says everyone had a grand time and none of the guests ever realized they were “extras.”

Former Matthews Mayor Lee Myers says Pleimann was indispensible during his time in office.

“During my 18 years as mayor, Jill Pleimann was the person I trusted and counted on every single day. Jill accepted responsibility and did a professional exemplary job. She was an asset for me and the town of Matthews.

“Jill was a good friend, too,” Myers said.