HARTFORD – Town Clerk Monica Mailly resigned Tuesday, explaining her reasons only briefly in a letter to the Board of Selectmen.

“It is with sincere apologies that I can not continue to work under the stressful conditions that have been created,” she wrote. The letter was submitted the day she resigned.

Mailly could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Selectmen Chairman Scott Swain said he would “rather not give a comment” on the resignation before the selectmen have met and discussed the matter.

In Mailly’s letter, she touched on a strong divide that has emerged between members of the Board of Selectmen.

“It has been a pleasure working with both Chairman Swain and Selectman (Laura) Marston,” she wrote, omitting the name of Selectman Lee Holman.

Mailly’s position has been in the spotlight since a petition was brought forward by Lianne Bedard, a former deputy town clerk who once worked with Mailly and who serves as the town’s animal control officer. The petition, which Bedard submitted to the town office Oct. 25, asks voters to change the positions of town clerk, tax collector, town treasurer and assistant to the selectmen from appointment to election beginning with the 2005 annual town meeting.

Bedard said Wednesday that she did not submit the petition to get rid of Mailly.

“I have no intention of running for her job or taking over her position,” she said, adding that she has been accused of having such designs since Mailly quit.

Voters are expected to consider Bedard’s request at a special town meeting Nov. 20.

As for Mailly’s position, Deputy Town Clerk Zoe Cowett said Wednesday she will fill the former town clerk’s shoes.

“We also have our other deputy town clerk, Betty Plumley,” Cowett said. “She’s going to be helping out.”