Claudette Charest retired Monday as welfare director and assistant town clerk for the town of Gorham after 24 years.
Charest, 56, began her service in Gorham municipal offices in August 1984 as secretary for the town manager and welfare director, which were combined then. She has also coordinated the senior meals served at St. Anne’s Church.
Charest and her husband, Phil Charest, were married in 1970 and first lived next door to her father-in-law’s cattle farm in Gorham. Although a city girl, she helped harvest the hay crop, stacking bales on trailers in fields.
She and her husband raised their two children in Gorham and have five grandchildren. A graduate of Westbrook High School in 1969, she grew up in Westbrook where she and her husband now live.
The American Journal last week asked her about her career and her retirement plans.
Q: What accomplishment stands out in your career?
A: I was elected president of the Maine Welfare Directors Association in 1991.
Q: How much was the town’s welfare budget then and now?
A: It was $236,000 in 1990-91 and $22,000 last year.
Q: Why did it go down so much?
A: The reduced amount in general assistance is because of federal and state welfare reforms in the 1990s. Before the reforms, people only had to say they needed help but after the reforms applicants were required to verify their financial needs.
Q: How many clients?
As secretary and welfare director, there were then four to five clients a month, now eight to 10 a month. But there were 14 to 15 a day in the late 1980s.
Q: How will you spend time in retirement?
A: I have a lovely workshop where I make stained glass and I’m teaching my granddaughter how to sew. Then, we’re going to do some traveling, see the country. He has nieces in Nevada and we’re going to take a trip to visit.
Q: Are you planning any trips overseas?
A: We do cruises. We’ve done several islands in the Caribbean. I would love to do South America.
Q: What in South America would you most like to see?
A: I would like to go up the Amazon. That would be cool and Rio, a party town. We don’t party, but we can look.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: My flower gardens. I love gardening and like to be outside. I like landscaping and making everything pretty.
Q: Your husband is an antique car enthusiast. Do you have a favorite old car?
A: No. Phil has some old cars and we go to the car shows together. He looks at old cars and I go shopping.
Q: Are you a sports fan?
A: Just to watch the grandkids. The boys play baseball, hockey and golf. The girls play soccer. We go to as many as we can.
Q: Did you take the job home with you?
A: You can’t help but worry about (clients) you’re working with. I’ve made friends. People will stop by, say “hi” and say “thank you.” It’s nice.
Q: Will your last day on the job be sad?
A: No. I’m ready to move on and do other things.
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