Historical Background and Evolution of the Municipal Clerk Position
– The position of clerk has existed for centuries
– In ancient Greece, secretaries read official documents publicly and read public curses at meetings
– Early keepers of archives were called remembrancers
– When colonists came to America, one of the first offices established was that of clerk
– The colony at Plymouth appointed a person to act as a recorder
– In New South Wales, the chief administrative officer of a city or borough was legally designated the town clerk
– In the 1970s, administrative procedures were merged and the person became the chief administrative officer
– The Local Government Act 2002 changed the title to chief executive
– The town clerk is the senior administrative officer of the city, borough, or town
– In most unitary authorities, the town clerk is now called the chief executive
– The equivalent officer in counties and districts is the clerk to the council, also designated as chief executive
– The parish clerk is responsible for administering and minuting parish council meetings and finance
Municipal Clerk Roles and Responsibilities in Australia and New Zealand
– In New South Wales, the role of the town clerk included administrative duties
– The officer worked closely with other statutory positions
– In New South Wales, the officer became called the general manager of the local council/shire
– The change was due to the NSW Local Government Act 1993
– For over a century, the chief administrative officer of a city or borough in New Zealand was legally designated the town clerk
– The rural counterpart, the county clerk, was also styled as the chief administrative officer
– The Local Government Act 2002 changed the title to chief executive
– The change applied to both city and county administrative officers
Municipal Clerk Roles and Responsibilities in Canada
– All Canadian local governments have a position responsible for the duties of the clerk
– Clerks are apolitical and not elected in Canada
– Provincial legislation lays out the key duties of the clerk
– Duties include ensuring accurate council minutes, providing public access to records, certifying bylaws and resolutions, administering oaths and affidavits, and keeping the corporate seal
– Many clerks also act as the government’s Freedom of Information (FOI) head
Municipal Clerk Roles and Responsibilities in the United Kingdom
– The town clerk is the senior administrative officer of the city, borough, or town
– In most unitary authorities, the town clerk is now called the chief executive
– The town clerk is often knighted in larger county boroughs
– The equivalent officer in counties and districts is the clerk to the council, also designated as chief executive
– The parish clerk is responsible for administering and minuting parish council meetings and finance
Municipal Clerk Roles and Responsibilities in Various Locations
– Three elected constitutional officers in each county in New Jersey: sheriff, surrogate, and county clerk
– County clerk’s term is five years
– County clerk is responsible for supervising elections and filing and recording documents in real estate ownership/transfer
– County clerk processes passport applications
– Town clerks in New York issue marriage licenses and dog licenses
– County clerks in New York maintain business certificates and real property deeds
– Recorders in West Virginia serve as members and secretary to the city or town council, record deeds, archive, and supervise elections
– Communal secretaries in Switzerland perform administrative work that doesn’t require the powers of the elected municipal council, may have subordinate clerks, handle various administrative tasks, support the elected municipal council, and play a key role in local government operations.Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_clerk
