Trait #1
Innovative
Trait #2
Citizen-focused
Trait #3
Leader
Trait #4
Communicator
Trait #5
Adaptable
Trait #6
Professional
Trait #7
Ambitious
It takes a team to run a city. Mayors, managers, council members, administrators, department heads (plus all their assistants and deputies) dedicate their days to fixing the past and shaping the future.
But there’s an individual at the quiet center of that bustling team who brings them all together: the city clerk.
So, what makes a great clerk? To get to the heart of it, we examined dozens and dozens of award nominations submitted as part of the Granicus 2019 Clerk Spotlight Awards.
See how clerks across the country impress city leaders by saving time and money through Granicus technology.
7 TRAITS OF GREAT CLERKS
ACCORDING TO CITY LEADERS
Below are the most commonly recognized traits mentioned by city leaders.
* Michelle innovates with govRecords and govMeetings software.
- City Council Member
Michelle has taken Yountville into the digital age. Her efforts allow us to use iPads for agendas and staff reports, filing FPPC documents such as Form 700, casting votes at council meetings, and searching for documents in new e-systems.”
INNOVATIVE
TRAIT #1
Being innovative isn't just for techies. Technology is embedded in everything these days, including the world of city clerks. From making public meetings more accessible to finding ways to automate manual processes, clerks can innovate to make cities run better. It's for precisely this reason that Michelle Dahm of Yountville, California, stands out. "She's always bringing innovative systems to our town," a council member wrote.
- City Council Member
Michelle has taken Yountville into the digital age. Her efforts allow us to use iPads for agendas and staff reports, filing FPPC documents such as Form 700, casting votes at council meetings, and searching for documents in new e-systems.”
INNOVATIVE
TRAIT #1
Being innovative isn't just for techies. Technology is embedded in everything these days, including the world of city clerks. From making public meetings more accessible to finding ways to automate manual processes, clerks can innovate to make cities run better. It's for precisely this reason that Michelle Dahm of Yountville, California, stands out. "She's always bringing innovative systems to our town," a council member wrote.
* Dorothy leads with help from govMeetings.
- Town Manager
Michelle has taken Yountville into the digital age. Her efforts allow us to use iPads for agendas and staff reports, filing FPPC documents such as Form 700, casting votes at council meetings, and searching for documents in new e-systems.”
INNOVATIVE
TRAIT #1
Being innovative isn't just for techies. Technology is embedded in everything these days, including the world of city clerks. From making public meetings more accessible to finding ways to automate manual processes, clerks can innovate to make cities run better. It's for precisely this reason that Michelle Dahm of Yountville, California, stands out. "She's always bringing innovative systems to our town," a council member wrote.
* Michelle innovates with govRecords and govMeetings software.
- Borough Council Member
Michelle has taken Yountville into the digital age. Her efforts allow us to use iPads for agendas and staff reports, filing FPPC documents such as Form 700, casting votes at council meetings, and searching for documents in new e-systems.”
INNOVATIVE
TRAIT #1
Being innovative isn't just for techies. Technology is embedded in everything these days, including the world of city clerks. From making public meetings more accessible to finding ways to automate manual processes, clerks can innovate to make cities run better. It's for precisely this reason that Michelle Dahm of Yountville, California, stands out. "She's always bringing innovative systems to our town," a council member wrote.
* Gail and the team at Raleigh adapted meetings with Granicus Video.
- City CIO
Michelle has taken Yountville into the digital age. Her efforts allow us to use iPads for agendas and staff reports, filing FPPC documents such as Form 700, casting votes at council meetings, and searching for documents in new e-systems.”
INNOVATIVE
TRAIT #1
Being innovative isn't just for techies. Technology is embedded in everything these days, including the world of city clerks. From making public meetings more accessible to finding ways to automate manual processes, clerks can innovate to make cities run better. It's for precisely this reason that Michelle Dahm of Yountville, California, stands out. "She's always bringing innovative systems to our town," a council member wrote.
- Mayor
Michelle has taken Yountville into the digital age. Her efforts allow us to use iPads for agendas and staff reports, filing FPPC documents such as Form 700, casting votes at council meetings, and searching for documents in new e-systems.”
INNOVATIVE
TRAIT #1
Being innovative isn't just for techies. Technology is embedded in everything these days, including the world of city clerks. From making public meetings more accessible to finding ways to automate manual processes, clerks can innovate to make cities run better. It's for precisely this reason that Michelle Dahm of Yountville, California, stands out. "She's always bringing innovative systems to our town," a council member wrote.
* Michelle innovates with govRecords and govMeetings software.
- Director of Planning & Natural Resources
Michelle has taken Yountville into the digital age. Her efforts allow us to use iPads for agendas and staff reports, filing FPPC documents such as Form 700, casting votes at council meetings, and searching for documents in new e-systems.”
INNOVATIVE
TRAIT #1
Being innovative isn't just for techies. Technology is embedded in everything these days, including the world of city clerks. From making public meetings more accessible to finding ways to automate manual processes, clerks can innovate to make cities run better. It's for precisely this reason that Michelle Dahm of Yountville, California, stands out. "She's always bringing innovative systems to our town," a council member wrote.
See It Live
See how clerks across the country impress city leaders by saving time and money through Granicus technology.
TRAIT #1
INNOVATIVE
Being innovative isn't just for techies. Technology is embedded in everything these days, including the world of city clerks. From making public meetings more accessible to finding ways to automate manual processes, clerks can innovate to make cities run better. It's for precisely this reason that Michelle Dahm of Yountville, California, stands out. "She's always bringing innovative systems to our town," a council member wrote.
Michelle has taken Yountville into the digital age. Her efforts allow us to use iPads for agendas and staff reports, filing FPPC documents such as Form 700, casting votes at council meetings, and searching for documents in new e-systems.”
* Michelle innovates with govRecords and govMeetings software.
- City Council Member
- City Council Member
TRAIT #3
LEADER
Clerks have a lot on their plates. For that reason, it’s easy to focus on the day’s deadlines rather than on the big picture. But that kind of thinking that can prevent even the best clerks from leading and implementing bigger change. Dorothy Burke of Windermere, Florida, was recognized by the town manager for her leadership.
Throughout our career together, I have reached out to her on several occasions to get her viewpoints on certain issues or new legislative initiatives. She entered this field not just to be a part of the community but to lead and guide it."
* Dorothy leads with help from govMeetings.
- City Council Member
TRAIT #4
Communicator
Clerks are known for getting work done and doing it well. That often means they’re great at improving processes or applying know-how or technical knowledge that others lack. But when you work with people, communications must be crystal clear. Being a great communicator is one reason a council member appreciates Rebecca New of Rocky Hill, New Jersey.
I have known excellent technical folks with limited ability to communicate, and it greatly limits their effectiveness. [Communication] is what makes Rebecca excel…”
* Rebecca improves communication with govMeetings.
- Borough Council Member
TRAIT #5
ADAPTABLE
It can be easy to get stuck in your ways. After all, it’s repetition that helps us learn and improve. But when change happens, the best clerks aren’t afraid to respond with new solutions. Adaptability is what stood out for the CIO of Raleigh, North Carolina, when writing about Gail Smith.
Gail has been the City Clerk for the City of Raleigh for 47 years. During this time, she has seen the City quadruple in size. She has navigated and adapted to the changes of going from a small- to medium-size City.”
* Gail and the team at Raleigh adapted meetings with Granicus Video.
- City CIO
TRAIT #6
Professional
A clerk has many important responsibilities and critical duties to complete for the city. Many of which are completed in close collaboration with city officials. It’s no surprise, then, that city leaders appreciate it when a clerk brings a professional polish to every interaction, such as Kim Allen does in Culpeper, Virginia.
Kim is one of the most professional people … her department runs flawlessly on a daily basis. She has a pleasant attitude with the public. She completes tasks timely and is definitely a team player.”
- Mayor
Ambitious
With limited budgets for many governments, some clerks might feel they should find ways to reduce services or, at the least, maintain a minimum status quo. But the best clerks aren’t letting budget limitations slow them down. They’re working smarter and more effectively, like Kathleen Krause in Kern County, California.
She has a streamlined, effective staff and uses technology to assist people while still picking up her phone. Even with a tight budget she never says ‘No’ but always ‘What can we do better?’"
* Kathleen gets more done with help from govRecords and govMeetings.
TRAIT #7
- Director of Planning & Natural Resources
