After 21 years with the Village of Roslyn, Kay Cunningham has announced her retirement, effective Dec. 31. Ms. Cunningham is currently serving as village clerk.

Mayor Janet Galante made the announcement public at the village meeting Tuesday night, while expressing her "deep regret and sadness" with Ms. Cunningham's decision. Mayor Galante said health concerns were the main reason behind Ms. Cunningham's plan to retire.

The mayor also thanked the village clerk for her "great help and support" to the Galante administration. When then-Trustee Galante was elected mayor in 1995, Ms. Cunningham was serving as deputy village clerk. She replaced then-village clerk Eileen Maida on what was thought to be a temporary basis. But Ms. Cunningham has served in that capacity ever since then.

Kay Cunningham's first day on the job was Feb. 10, 1978. During her 21 years in Roslyn, Ms. Cunningham also served as secretary to the Planning Board, secretary to the Board of Zoning and Appeals, a secretary to the Building Department. Over the years, she worked under three different mayors, Elias Spielman, Joel Pasnik, and the current mayor, Janet Galante.

"It's been interesting," Ms. Cunningham said of her two decades in service to the village. "I enjoyed my work. It was never about politics. [Working for the village] was not a job. It was just a position."

Looking forward to next year, Ms. Cunningham says she plans to do some long-distance traveling, starting in January. However, unlike many other Long Island retirees, she plans to stay on the island and will continue to live in Roslyn.

"People tell me to sell the house and make a lot of money, but I enjoy my home right now," she said.

The village is already advertising and receiving applications for the vacancy. It hopes to hire a replacement by the beginning of the year.