LINCOLN – As town clerks go, Lisa Goodwin is among pretty rare company.

The Lincoln town clerk has been named the 2005 Municipal Clerk of the Year by the Maine Town and City Clerks Association for her integrity, professionalism and excellent performance, association officials said.

Goodwin, who has worked for Lincoln for 14 years, was flattered by the award, she said Thursday.

“I was pretty surprised. It was nothing that I had expected, and it’s a great honor,” Goodwin said. “I know the past recipients of the award and I know the caliber of the people involved, and it’s nice to be placed among them.”

Her boss, Town Manager Glenn Aho, nominated her for the award because she does her job extremely well, he said.

“She is very disciplined, very professional, and she is committed to excellence,” Aho said. “I see it in her performance and person. She is a great employee and an inspiration in the sense that she continually learns more of her profession so she can perform even better.”

According to the MTCCA Web site, Goodwin is the first clerk to win the award from Penobscot County since the award was created in 1991. Deanna Hallett of Hallowell, Rhonda Starks of Skowhegan and John Myers of Buxton are among previous winners.

Goodwin, 42, graduated from Mattanawcook Academy in 1981 and has lived in town all of her life, she said.

The hardest part of her work, she said, is “juggling all the responsibilities.”

“The clerk doesn’t just push papers,” she said. “I am responsible for vital records, dog licensing, elections, council minutes. There is a whole array of different responsibilities.”

Customer service is an enjoyable thread running through all of her work, she said.

“I like people. I enjoy working for the town,” Goodwin said. “It’s challenging, it has a fast pace, and things are always changing so you don’t get bored doing the same thing

.”