The Cape Elizabeth Town Council unanimously approved the appointment of April Cohen as town clerk Monday night.

Appointed by Town Manager Michael McGovern, Cohen will start working for the town on Aug. 21.

Cohen was unable to attend the meeting Monday night because she was on her honeymoon in Las Vegas. Her mother, Linda Cohen, city clerk for Portland, was present for the vote.

“April has good genes for the job in terms of her mother,” said McGovern before the council voted. “I think she’ll do an outstanding job,” he said.

April Cohen was deputy town clerk in Yarmouth for over a year before applying for the position left open by Debora Cabana on July 7. Cabana worked as town clerk for Cape Elizabeth since March, 2004, and began work in her home town of Gray as town manager on July 24.

“I know the job will be a great step for me,” said Cohen who also works as a part-time real estate agent for Gammon Reality Guild in Westbrook. “I am excited about meeting new people. Cape Elizabeth residents are my neighbors,” said Cohen, who lives in South Portland. She said she works well as a team player and people in Cape appear to operate as a team.

“I’m proud of her and I’m sure she will do a good job,” said Linda Cohen. “She is very dedicated to customer service and is detail oriented, important characteristics for a town clerk.”

Linda served as the city clerk for South Portland for over 12 years, taking the position in 1989. She has since worked as city clerk for Portland. When asked if she was worried April might take her job, Linda said, “I would willingly give it to her.”

April Cohen, whose name will soon be April Tracey, married Portland fire fighter Lenny Tracey on Saturday and flew to Nevada until Wednesday, Aug. 17. She said she will be jumping right back into work with a vital records training class starting Thursday morning.

Cohen said the vital records class is the last class she needs to be a state certified municipal clerk. She said she will not have to take the class again to recertify but municipal clerks should take the class every two or three years to keep up with law changes.

Interviews for the town clerk position were conducted on July 21, said McGovern. McGovern said he makes the appointment for the position and hiring is subject to the Town Council’s final approval. Interim Town Clerk Jackie Coy and Town Assessor Matthew Sturgis helped McGovern with the interview process.

McGovern said Cohen was hired primarily for her experience in Yarmouth and her extensive knowledge of a town clerk’s responsibilities. “She is also very personable and friendly,” said McGovern.

As town clerk, Cohen’s new responsibilities include working with the Town Council, organizing elections and licensing issues. She said she excited about the new responsibilities and is “very excited about the new job.”