The Municipal Charter as the Ceiling on Authority Every clerk works with a municipal charter, or its general-law equivalent, in some form — it's the document that sets the ceiling on what council, the mayor or manager, and staff can actually do. (The National Civic League's Model City Charter, now in its ninth edition, is [...]
Looking ahead, September marks the start of real election crunch time. Clerks recruit poll workers and lock in training schedules. And this year, they should also build election worker safety planning into that prep. Local election officials report rising concern about safety heading into the 2026 midterms. Free, practical tools already exist to help. CISA [...]
July 4, 2026 marks something rare — not just a national holiday, but a genuine milestone. America turns 250. The fireworks are spectacular. The speeches are patriotic. The parades are joyful. But here's what most people celebrating this semiquincentennial won't stop to think about: self-governance doesn't happen at the parade. It happens in your office. [...]
Public records request volume has been climbing steadily for years, but the nature of that increase is changing in ways that matter for how clerk offices manage their workload, their documentation, and their risk. It's not just more requests. It's more complex requests, faster turnaround expectations, and a new category of high-volume, AI-assisted filings that [...]
If you work in local government and support legislative bodies, boards, or committees, you’re already living in Robert’s Rules every day. May 2 marks the birthday of Henry Martyn Robert, author of Robert’s Rules of Order. It’s a simple way to recognize the role parliamentary procedure plays in keeping meetings fair, structured, and moving forward. [...]
Public criticism is part of the job. Sometimes it comes through a meeting. Sometimes it lands in your inbox. Sometimes it shows up online and starts gaining wider traction. If you work in a clerk’s or manager’s office, you’re often right in the middle of it. You’re tracking what happened, what was decided, and how [...]
A moment to recognize the work counties do every day April is National County Government Month, an annual observance organized by the National Association of Counties. Since 1991, counties across the country have used the month to help residents better understand the services county government provides and the people who make those services possible. If [...]
After your governing body approves your community’s strategic plan, the next step is turning that direction into steady, day-to-day governance work. For clerks, managers, and staff, that means confirming the official record, clarifying responsibility for each priority, aligning goals with agendas and budgets, scheduling regular reviews, and documenting progress. The processes are already in place. [...]
As local governments scramble to fill critical roles left by a wave of retirements, many are eyeing the influx of laid-off federal workers as a solution. For municipal clerks, who are often at the center of hiring and onboarding, understanding the advantages and drawbacks of bringing former federal employees onto your team is key. Pros [...]
Almost like clockwork – hah! – Congress (there's a bill in each house) is again considering permanent Daylight Saving Time (DST) under the Sunshine Protection Act. This year, Texas and other states are proposing permanent Standard Time (ST). Meanwhile, some argue for keeping the current system of biannual time changes. Each option has unique implications [...]