Agenda - Charter Commission - 08/15/2002 - Joint with CC

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From History of the Municipal Cleric, International Institute of Municipal Clerks, phone (909) 592-IIMC. From Histo~. of the · [tcuicipat Clerk, International Institute of Municipal Cler~, phone (909) $92~11MC. Holy Bible, Acts 19:32-41 From Ilia'toO, afire Municipal Clerk, International Institute of Municipal Clerks, phone (909) 592-IIMC. From ltistoo' af the Mu.icipal Clerk, International Institute af Mu,,icipal Clerks, phoue (909) 592-IIMC. Part III. City clerk The office of city clerk is one of the oldest and most important positions in city government. The duties of the city clerk may vary depending upon the city's form of government, the city's size, and the various types of services it offers to its residents. "The early keepers of archives were often called 'Remembran- cers,' and before writing came into use, their memory served as the public record. In England during 1272 A.D, the 'Remembrancer' was called upon to remind the members of the council what had transpired at their previous meeting, since the meeting of early councils were not recorded in written minutes." "Ancient Greece had a secretary who read official documents publicly. At the opening of a meeting, one of (the) first duties was to decree a curse upon anyone who should seek to deceive the public." The city clerk position is also mentioned in the Bible. When a mob seized twvo of Paul's followers, the city clerk quieted the crowd and cautioned them to do nothing and let any charges against the two pegple be handled in a lawful assembly. After warning the mob that the city was in danger of being called into question for the incident because it had no reason to give for the disorderly gathering, the clerk dismissed the assembly. "The title 'clerk' as we know it developed from the Latin clericus. During the Middle Ages, when scholarship and writing were limited to the clergy, clerk came to mean a scholar--especially one who could read, write, and thus serve as notary, secretary, accountant, and recorder." "When the earlY colonists came' to America, they set up forms of local government to which they had been accustomed, and the office of clerk was one of the first to be established. The person appointed as recorder kept all the vital records for birth, marriages, and deaths, as well as various other records of appoinm'~ents, deeds, meetings, and the election of officers." A. Types of city clerks There are basically three types of city clerk offices in Minnesota cities: elected clerk offices, appointed clerk offices, and home rule charter clerk offices. Each type of position has different responsibilities, depending upon the type of city. (~ty Admminstrator 13 -59-