431:, and municipal supervisor of elections. In some smaller towns' governments, recorders additionally fill the role of financial officer. Many municipalities delegate some or all of these duties to an employee with the title of city or town clerk, while others may divide them between the recorder and the clerk. The recorder or clerk may even have authority by ordinance to issue warrants for arrest, although this power normally resides in a municipal judge.
288:
complicated due to the input and iterative modification by numerous departments and agencies, both within and external to the organization. Software applications that can easily assemble agendas, minutes, and even automatically transcribe the meetings are now becoming more common. Often, these agendas and meeting minutes are downloadable by interested citizens by accessing the organization's website.
39:, the position is elected, but in many others, the clerk is appointed to their post. In the UK, a town or parish clerk is appointed by the town or parish council members. In almost all cases, the actual title of the clerk reflects the type of municipality they work for; thus, instead of simply being known as the clerk, the position is generally referred to as the
304:, the city clerk is the local official who administers democratic processes such as elections, access to city records, and all legislative actions ensuring transparency to the public. The city clerk acts as a compliance officer for federal, state, and local statutes including the Political Reform Act, the Brown Act, and the
398:
in the judicial department in which the county is located.") For example, marriage licenses and dog licenses are issued by town clerks while business certificates and real property deeds are maintained by county clerks. Appointed historians are also required at each level. City clerks may administer
287:
for the legislative and committee meetings. Official meetings of municipalities can become a serious chore as the activity in the town increases with a larger population. The task of assembling the agenda packets with supporting documents can take several days for a single meeting. It becomes more
123:
All
Canadian local governments will have a position in their organization responsible for the duties of the clerk, working closely with other statutory positions, including the chief administrative officer and chief financial officer. Clerks are not elected in Canada, and are apolitical. This is an
99:. The early keepers of the archives were often called remembrancers, and before writing came into use, their memory was public record. When the early 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.
78:
The duties of a municipal clerk vary even more than their titles. In the United
Kingdom, a clerk is generally responsible for a local council (town or parish). Particularly in the United States, it is difficult to fully describe a clerk's duties, because there are hundreds of different jobs a clerk
370:
in each county: the sheriff, the surrogate, and the county clerk, the last of whose term is five years. The county clerk is responsible the supervision of elections, the filing and recording of all documents in real estate ownership/transfer, the processing passport applications, assisting
291:
Clerks may also be responsible for issuing licenses, overseeing local elections, maintaining financial records, serving as registrar of vital statistics, and increasingly, for assuring the transparency of the municipality's conduct of business.
157:
Title of the clerk may vary from local government to local government. In
British Columbia, the clerk is often referred to as the corporate officer of the municipal government, as established in that province's
279:, the clerk often serves as the official keeper of the municipal records, and as such, is sometimes described as the "historian" of the community. Sometimes the clerk's office includes presenting the
79:
may fulfill. In some U.S. states, there are provisions in the state constitutions delineating the clerk's duties, but in other states, each municipality decides for itself what role the clerk plays.
346:. The duties of town clerks vary slightly in each community. Massachusetts clerks who have been in office five or more years may be elected by special ballot initiative to a lifetime term with
326:
level, which is a subdivision of the county. Such clerks are sometimes required to serve more than one governmental unit, due to the often overlapping jurisdictions that exist in
Illinois.
237:
is the parish clerk, usually part-time, but still a paid official, whose main responsibility is the administration and minuting of parish council meetings and parish council finance. The
244:
On ceremonial occasions, some town clerks will wear a gown of black silk ottoman/grosgrain of the lay pattern with panel sleeves and a flap collar. The gown is trimmed with rows of
154:
In
Ontario, the clerk issues marriage licences and burial permits, and registers deaths on behalf of the provincial government. They also are authorized to perform civil weddings.
508:
174:, for over a century, the chief administrative officer of a city or borough was also legally designated the town clerk. This continued until the 1970s, when the city and
487:"60.33 Duties of town clerk. :: Chapter 60. Towns. :: 2010 Wisconsin Code :: Wisconsin Code :: US Codes and Statutes :: US Law :: Justia"
902:
917:
371:
individuals who wish to become a notary public, the issuance of identification cards, the filing of business trade names, among other administrative duties.
111:, for over a century, the chief administrative officer of a city or borough was also legally designated the town clerk. This continued until 1993, when the
395:
209:, the town clerk is the senior administrative officer of the city, borough or town, usually the most senior salaried employee of the council. In most
907:
892:
443:, either alone or with subordinate clerks, performs all administrative work that does not require the powers of the elected municipal council.
159:
471:
897:
127:
Provincial legislation lays out the key duties of the clerk, and can vary from province to province, but often includes the following:
562:
419:
of the municipal government in the absence of the actual mayor. Recorders also serve as members of and secretary to the city or town
540:
260:. However, many town clerks will not wear ceremonial dress as the role has been modernised in many towns across the United Kingdom.
148:
922:
912:
264:
673:
226:
179:
509:"Duties of the City Clerk Under California Law In a General Law California City « Michael Reiter, Attorney at Law Blog"
887:
305:
604:
367:
726:
415:
in Class IV towns (those with fewer than 2,000 people) and in some larger municipalities. By default, recorders act as
862:"West Virginia Code §8-10-4. Powers and duties of recorder or clerk relating to warrants, oaths, sureties and bonds"
363:
112:
308:. The city clerk manages public inquiries and relationships and arranges for ceremonial and official functions.
194:
187:
124:
important measure, considering many
Canadian clerks are tasked with the duty of administering local elections.
820:"West Virginia Code §8-5-7. Certain officers; wards or election districts; residency and other requirements"
252:
and gentleman-commoners in the ancient universities of Oxford and
Cambridge. The town clerk may also wear a
794:
652:
75:
The office has existed for centuries, though in some places it is now being merged with other positions.
387:
472:
https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/features/word/search/?search_word_type=Dictionary&word=clerk
347:
238:
230:
32:
386:
and county clerks who have separately defined responsibilities. (Under
Article XIII, §13(a) of the
440:
28:
536:
452:
424:
225:, and the chief executives of large authorities sometimes still do. The equivalent officer in
217:, although the original name is retained in most smaller towns. The town clerks of the larger
210:
339:
280:
486:
115:
was passed and the officer became called the 'general manager of the local council/shire'.
399:
elections but, outside cities, county election commissioners head the election apparatus.
383:
222:
214:
108:
24:
583:
379:
322:
218:
206:
88:
131:
ensuring the accurate taking of council minutes/recording of the decisions of council;
881:
408:
391:
335:
276:
233:
was the clerk to the council (now also designated chief executive) and in (non-town)
36:
768:
394:
are not elected, but instead "shall be appointed, and be subject to removal, by the
420:
350:
at age 70, after which they may remain in office if they run for successive terms.
343:
234:
183:
680:
747:
530:
95:
who read official documents publicly and at the opening of a meeting read public
784:, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed February 24, 2022.
631:
416:
171:
704:
359:
301:
182:
declared that every such person (along with his or her rural counterpart, the
428:
257:
35:
in the
English-speaking world. In some communities, including most in the
317:
861:
840:
241:
is an important executive position with a staff and significant budget.
134:
ensuring the public is provided with access to local government records;
819:
284:
795:"Constitution of The State of New York, Article 13 - Public Officers"
249:
175:
781:
263:
The professional body for town clerks in the United
Kingdom is the
245:
96:
92:
248:
and tassels. This gown is similar to the gown of undergraduate
253:
841:"West Virginia Code §8-10-3. Powers and duties of recorder"
197:
changed the title again, this time to chief executive.
137:
certifying copies of bylaws and resolutions of council;
178:
administrative procedures were largely merged and the
87:
The origins of the position of clerk are unclear. In
532:
Literacy and orality in ancient Greece - Google Books
338:, the town clerk is the chief election official of a
267:, who represent over 5000 clerks across the country.
748:"Clerk's Duties :: DeKalb Township, Illinois"
674:"Milton, Delaware, Town Clerk job description"
727:"Technology for Transparency | Our Town"
151:(FOI) head for the purposes of FOI requests.
8:
626:
624:
470:Macquarie Dictionary (online) 'clerk', see
481:
479:
213:the town clerk has now been renamed the
463:
396:appellate division of the supreme court
147:Many clerks also act as a government's
140:administering oaths and affidavits; and
903:Local government in the United Kingdom
529:Thomas, Rosalind (25 September 1992).
31:English) is a senior official of many
918:Local government in the United States
563:"TOWN CLERK - WESTERLY, Rhode Island"
7:
782:History of the County Clerk's Office
67:. Other titles also exist, such as
799:New York State Department of State
725:Louise, Sarah (26 February 2009).
190:the chief administrative officer.
14:
769:"New Jersey Department of State"
511:. Michaelreiterlaw.wordpress.com
366:(1947), there are three elected
342:and the keeper of permanent and
91:there were secretaries for each
908:Local government in New Zealand
320:, clerks may also exist on the
265:Society of Local Council Clerks
23:(pronounced "clark" /klɑːk/ in
535:. Cambridge University Press.
507:Reiter, Michael (2011-06-03).
143:keeping of the corporate seal.
1:
893:Local government in Australia
653:"Town Clerk, job description"
609:www.eveshamtowncouncil.gov.uk
411:Code provides for an elected
113:NSW Local Government Act 1993
864:. West Virginia Legislature
843:. West Virginia Legislature
822:. West Virginia Legislature
390:, the county clerks within
16:Municipal government office
939:
898:Local government in Canada
605:"Mayor of Evesham Regalia"
364:Constitution of New Jersey
382:law provides for elected
362:, as provided for in the
195:Local Government Act 2002
180:Local Government Act 1974
705:"Town of Brant New York"
565:. Westerly.govoffice.com
368:constitutional officers
186:) should henceforth be
923:Management occupations
913:Government occupations
634:. cityofcarlsbadnm.com
584:"Michaels Civic Robes"
149:Freedom of Information
388:New York Constitution
33:municipal governments
888:City and town clerks
750:. Dekalbtownship.com
439:In Switzerland, the
348:mandatory retirement
239:Town Clerk of London
221:frequently received
256:similar to that of
211:unitary authorities
441:communal secretary
306:Public Records Act
73:corporate officer.
453:Recorder of deeds
425:recorder of deeds
160:community charter
930:
873:
872:
870:
869:
858:
852:
851:
849:
848:
837:
831:
830:
828:
827:
816:
810:
809:
807:
805:
791:
785:
779:
773:
772:
765:
759:
758:
756:
755:
744:
738:
737:
735:
734:
729:. Chicago Reader
722:
716:
715:
713:
712:
701:
695:
694:
692:
691:
685:
679:. Archived from
678:
670:
664:
663:
661:
660:
649:
643:
642:
640:
639:
628:
619:
618:
616:
615:
601:
595:
594:
592:
591:
586:. Civicrobes.com
580:
574:
573:
571:
570:
559:
553:
552:
550:
549:
526:
520:
519:
517:
516:
504:
498:
497:
495:
494:
489:. Law.justia.com
483:
474:
468:
938:
937:
933:
932:
931:
929:
928:
927:
878:
877:
876:
867:
865:
860:
859:
855:
846:
844:
839:
838:
834:
825:
823:
818:
817:
813:
803:
801:
793:
792:
788:
780:
776:
767:
766:
762:
753:
751:
746:
745:
741:
732:
730:
724:
723:
719:
710:
708:
703:
702:
698:
689:
687:
683:
676:
672:
671:
667:
658:
656:
651:
650:
646:
637:
635:
630:
629:
622:
613:
611:
603:
602:
598:
589:
587:
582:
581:
577:
568:
566:
561:
560:
556:
547:
545:
543:
528:
527:
523:
514:
512:
506:
505:
501:
492:
490:
485:
484:
477:
469:
465:
461:
449:
437:
405:
377:
356:
332:
314:
298:
273:
219:county boroughs
215:chief executive
203:
168:
121:
109:New South Wales
105:
85:
61:board secretary
17:
12:
11:
5:
936:
934:
926:
925:
920:
915:
910:
905:
900:
895:
890:
880:
879:
875:
874:
853:
832:
811:
786:
774:
760:
739:
717:
696:
665:
644:
620:
596:
575:
554:
541:
521:
499:
475:
462:
460:
457:
456:
455:
448:
445:
436:
433:
404:
401:
380:New York state
376:
373:
355:
352:
331:
328:
313:
310:
297:
294:
272:
269:
207:United Kingdom
202:
201:United Kingdom
199:
167:
164:
145:
144:
141:
138:
135:
132:
120:
117:
104:
101:
89:ancient Greece
84:
81:
45:township clerk
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
935:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
899:
896:
894:
891:
889:
886:
885:
883:
863:
857:
854:
842:
836:
833:
821:
815:
812:
800:
796:
790:
787:
783:
778:
775:
770:
764:
761:
749:
743:
740:
728:
721:
718:
707:. Brantny.com
706:
700:
697:
686:on 2011-10-03
682:
675:
669:
666:
654:
648:
645:
633:
627:
625:
621:
610:
606:
600:
597:
585:
579:
576:
564:
558:
555:
544:
542:9780521377423
538:
534:
533:
525:
522:
510:
503:
500:
488:
482:
480:
476:
473:
467:
464:
458:
454:
451:
450:
446:
444:
442:
434:
432:
430:
426:
423:, as well as
422:
418:
417:mayor pro tem
414:
410:
409:West Virginia
403:West Virginia
402:
400:
397:
393:
392:New York City
389:
385:
381:
374:
372:
369:
365:
361:
353:
351:
349:
345:
344:vital records
341:
337:
336:Massachusetts
330:Massachusetts
329:
327:
325:
324:
319:
311:
309:
307:
303:
295:
293:
289:
286:
282:
278:
277:United States
271:United States
270:
268:
266:
261:
259:
255:
251:
247:
242:
240:
236:
232:
228:
224:
220:
216:
212:
208:
200:
198:
196:
191:
189:
185:
181:
177:
173:
165:
163:
162:legislation.
161:
155:
152:
150:
142:
139:
136:
133:
130:
129:
128:
125:
118:
116:
114:
110:
102:
100:
98:
94:
90:
82:
80:
76:
74:
70:
66:
62:
58:
57:borough clerk
54:
53:village clerk
50:
46:
42:
38:
37:United States
34:
30:
26:
22:
866:. Retrieved
856:
845:. Retrieved
835:
824:. Retrieved
814:
802:. Retrieved
798:
789:
777:
763:
752:. Retrieved
742:
731:. Retrieved
720:
709:. Retrieved
699:
688:. Retrieved
681:the original
668:
657:. Retrieved
647:
636:. Retrieved
632:"City Clerk"
612:. Retrieved
608:
599:
588:. Retrieved
578:
567:. Retrieved
557:
546:. Retrieved
531:
524:
513:. Retrieved
502:
491:. Retrieved
466:
438:
412:
406:
378:
357:
333:
321:
315:
299:
290:
274:
262:
243:
204:
192:
184:county clerk
169:
156:
153:
146:
126:
122:
106:
86:
77:
72:
68:
65:county clerk
64:
60:
56:
52:
48:
44:
40:
20:
18:
655:. Memun.org
435:Switzerland
223:knighthoods
172:New Zealand
166:New Zealand
882:Categories
868:2018-05-24
847:2018-05-24
826:2018-05-24
754:2011-07-10
733:2011-07-10
711:2011-07-10
690:2011-07-10
659:2011-07-10
638:2011-07-10
614:2019-07-12
590:2011-07-10
569:2011-07-10
548:2011-07-10
515:2011-07-10
493:2011-07-10
459:References
360:New Jersey
354:New Jersey
302:California
296:California
258:barristers
49:city clerk
41:town clerk
29:Australian
804:5 January
429:archivist
231:districts
103:Australia
447:See also
413:recorder
375:New York
323:township
318:Illinois
312:Illinois
235:parishes
227:counties
69:recorder
421:council
285:minutes
275:In the
205:In the
83:History
25:British
539:
281:agenda
250:fellow
188:styled
176:county
119:Canada
97:curses
684:(PDF)
677:(PDF)
246:braid
93:polis
63:, or
21:clerk
806:2018
537:ISBN
407:The
384:town
340:town
283:and
229:and
193:The
71:and
27:and
358:In
334:In
316:In
300:In
254:wig
170:In
107:In
884::
797:.
623:^
607:.
478:^
427:,
59:,
55:,
51:,
47:,
43:,
19:A
871:.
850:.
829:.
808:.
771:.
757:.
736:.
714:.
693:.
662:.
641:.
617:.
593:.
572:.
551:.
518:.
496:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.