Meeting Records Are the Most Requested. Are Yours Findable? Public records requests are at record levels — and they're not slowing down. Federal FOIA requests topped 1.5 million in fiscal year 2024, a 25 percent increase in a single year. Backlogs grew 33 percent. The average response time for a simple request stretched from 39 [...]
At some point in a clerk's or manager's career, you're likely going to find yourself in a meeting where a disagreement builds to disruption and derails the meeting. Dealing with conflict within a city council meeting is never comfortable. When it falls on clerks and managers to be the “adult in the room,” it may [...]
Municipal Clerks Week, celebrated annually during the first full week of May, is a time to recognize the invaluable contributions of municipal clerks to local governance and community well-being. In 2025, we continue this tradition, shining a spotlight on these dedicated professionals who ensure transparency, efficiency, and democratic integrity in our towns and cities. Why [...]
By NBC - Original publication: Promotional photograph of Leslie Knope. Immediate source: https://www.pawneeindiana.com/images/parks-and-recreation/staff/leslie-staff-shot.jpg, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42011464 July is National Parks and Recreation Month, a time to celebrate the dedicated professionals who create and maintain the vital green spaces that are the heart and soul of our communities. As Leslie Knope, our fictional hero [...]
As local government staff, you're likely the keepers of your community's history. You preserve records, manage landmarks, and maybe even lead tours through charming old buildings. But for describing these treasures, do you ever stumble over the words "historic" and "historical"? Don't worry, you're not alone! A recent article on Apartment Therapy showed "historic" and [...]
"Retired. Gone fishing." We received that exact auto-response to a recent email. Back in January, we talked about MarketWatch's article, the "Great Resignation," and how it was impacting local governments. We've certainly seen an uptick in retirements among our own local government friends and contacts. Recently, the International City Managers' Association (ICMA) followed up with [...]
"Rubber Stamp Tree" by Jeffrey Beall on Flickr We're reaching back into the vault for Gov1's 2017 article titled "7 Habits of a Highly Effective City Clerk." In the article, outgoing Des Plaines, Ill. City Clerk Gloria Ludwig shares her secrets, which include: Stay Educated Affiliate with the Pros Communicate Regularly We want to know [...]
Municipal Clerks Week is May 1-7, just a couple of short weeks away! Is your community ready to recognize and celebrate the work that your municipal clerk does? If you're unsure what that is, an article from International City/County Management Association (ICMA) lists five things to know about Municipal Clerks' responsibilities: Professionalism. Many states mandate [...]