Brookline Town Counsel Leaves After 28 Years

BROOKLINE, MA — Brookline Town Counsel Joslin Ham Murphy stepped down quietly on July 1.

"After 41 years of dedicated public service Joslin Murphy will be retiring," Town Administrator Melvin Kleckner told the Select Board June 29. The announcement came as he was presenting a list of town department heads for reappointment at the end of the meeting.

Kleckner apologized to the board for not getting the information about Murphy's departure earlier, and said because she was leaving, she would not be up for reappointment.

Murphy's stepping down came as a surprise to many. But Murphy said in an email to Patch it was the right time for her.

"A number of things have prompted my departure," she said. "Forty-one years in public service is a long time! From a personal perspective, the timing is just right."

When asked what she would miss most about leaving?

"Without a doubt, the extraordinary professional and administrative staff I have had the privilege of working with over so many years," she said.

Murphy did not say what was next for her, but alluded to a full plate.

"Stay tuned!" she said.

Murphy worked in the town counsel's office for 28 years. She was appointed in 2013 to replace Jennifer Gilbert as town council. Before that, she worked as an assistant district attorney for Middlesex County and then as an assistant attorney general in Massachusetts. Prior to that she was a Brookline police officer and also worked as the interim chief of police in Chelsea.

An automatic email for Murphy says business that once was directed to her should now be sent to John Buchheit or Kerry Fleming.

Kleckner did not immediately return request for comment Thursday.

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