Beloved Pottstown borough secretary Ginny Takach recognized at retirement

POTTSTOWN — Those who have a lot of interactions with the folks inside Pottstown Borough Hall have likely had the good fortune to come into contact with Virginia Takach, known throughout the building, and the borough, as simply “Ginny.”

In addition to being the borough council’s official secretary who takes the meeting minutes and makes up meeting agendas, Takach was executive secretary to no fewer than six borough managers, as well as the secretary to the Pottstown Borough Authority, the borough’s Right to Know Officer and, perhaps most importantly, the unofficial “glue” that so often has held the whole operation together.

Over the last two decades, mayors, council presidents, borough managers, and department heads have come and gone. And still, there was always “Ginny.”

If you had a question, a concern, a complaint or, rarer still, a compliment, in most cases the best place to start was to “ask Ginny.”

Just ask the people who said goodbye to her Tuesday when her retirement after 23 years was recognized and celebrated with an official resolution passed unanimously by the borough council.

“This is a little of a bittersweet moment for me,” said her final boss, Borough Manager Justin Keller. “I’m really sad to see you go, but I’m really glad you’re choosing to retire and make the most of your time with your family and your friends.”

“I remember my first day, you really helped me out,” Councilman Joe Kirkland told Takach. “I remember my first time, I came into your office, fresh, didn’t know a thing. You sat down with me with all the forms and I really appreciated that because I didn’t feel like I belonged yet. You really helped me out, you really made me feel welcome. You said ‘sir’ to me. And I really appreciated that. You helped me to understand where I was at and the responsibility I have. You taught me that.”

“Long before the electronic Alexas, I had Ginny,” said Borough Council President Dan Weand. “I’d say ‘Ginny where’s this? Ginny, where’s that? Ginny get me.’”

“The other times, her alarm would be going off all the time, with her saying ‘Dan, you’ve got a meeting there, you’ve got a meeting there, you need to sign these papers,” Weand said. “What many don’t understand, being president of council is a wonderful experience, but I’m probably in here three days a week, pestering her and I asked her to keep track, which she did reluctantly. And since July, and this has been a slow period for the borough, I’ve been in 48 times to sign signatures for the borough, but she’s on top of everything and we’re going to miss you terribly.”

“There’s a lot of stuff that goes on back here,” Councilwoman Trenita Lindsay said from her chair. “She sits right here, she has a recorder and she’s doing shorthand. I don’t always know when I’m supposed to speak and she would tap me on the hand, saying ‘now is not the time to talk,’” Lindsay said with a laugh. “She was welcoming and she held my hand. I even tried bribing her to make her stay, but she won’t do it, I tried. You will be missed.”

“I also tried to bribe her, it didn’t work,” joked Councilwoman Lisa Vanni. “When I got on council, two months later we had the pandemic and I didn’t know what was going on. It’s not always friendly up here, but Ginny is always friendly. You answered any question. Sometimes we would just have a chat. You were sympathetic and you know everything and you take care of all of us and you will be very much missed.”

“From the bottom of my heart, I just want to say thank you so much,” Mayor Stephanie Henrick said. “You are the glue that holds this borough together. I’m not really sure how we’re going to survive without you, but thank you for leaving an amazing legacy and thank you for giving us all confidence to be up here and able to do our job. You are just a bright light in this borough and your customer service and the way you handle people should be studied.”

“Obviously you’ve touched the lives of many and helped us all out more than we can imagine,” Keller said as Takach received a standing ovation from the council and the crowd.

“This is so kind, I certainly so appreciate it,” Takach said, fighting back tears and joking “They said there’s no crying in borough hall.”

“Exactly 24 years ago yesterday, I stood out front for the Photo of the Century, out in the muddy field, and I looked up at this building and thought, ‘I think I belong there,”” said Tackach. “And there has never been a day that I felt any differently that I belong here, so you can’t get rid of me too quickly, because a part of me will always be here.”

Here is the text of the resolution adopted on her behalf:

Recognizing Virginia L. Takach for 23 years of dedicated service to the Borough of Pottstown.

Whereas Virginia L. Takach has served the borough as a dedicated employee since 200 and; whereas throughout her career with the borough she has dutifully held the position of borough secretary working alongside and faithfully supporting six different borough managers

And whereas for the past 23 years, Ginny has shown unwavering dedication as the borough secretary, consistently embodying exceptional professionalism, precision and grace in all her interactions. Throughout her tenure, she has provided invaluable assistance on a multitude of topics surpassing enumeration. Not only has she expertly served as our borough-appointed right to know officer, but she has also meticulously prepared meeting agendas, minutes for borough council and the Pottstown Borough Authority.

Additionally, Ginny’s organizational skills have been instrumental in orchestrating seamless meetings and events while providing steadfast support to all our borough organizations. Her efforts have consistently aimed to ensure our residents and visitors receive the highest standard of customer service from the borough

Whereas Ginny’s role has been pivotal, acting as the glue that fortified and unified the borough’s operations, significantly contributing to its success throughout the past two decades.

And whereas Ginny’s presence at borough hall will be deeply missed by the people who have worked and served alongside her as her impact left a positive enduring impression on our constituents, elected officials and staff members alike.

Now, therefore be it, and it is hereby resolved by the mayor and town council that Virginia L. Takach is that officially recognized for the outstanding service she has provided the borough of Pottstown throughout 23 years of employment and dedicated service and further that she is extended best wishes for a happy and well-deserved retirement.

Takach’s replacement as the new borough secretary is Alexa Barry.