EDITORIAL
BY DHIREN SHAH
Hello Readers,
Why aren’t the city clerks of townships, cities, counties, and the election commissions truly helping the community? They all are getting paid with taxpayer money. They are all (supposed to be) independent from the administration and responsible to answer to the council as he/she is performing the duties to assist the mayor and the council.
The clerk must perform his/her duties towards the citizens as well. When a citizen has a complaint against the administration of council, he/she must help and guide the citizen to make the citizen’s work easy. However, many have complained that the clerks are not helpful when there is a movement or citizen’s group asking to make a change in the law through a memorandum, or they feel that the administration and council are not performing their duties towards the citizens.
According to governmentjobs.com on the General Purpose of the Clerk: “The principal function of the City Clerk/Mayor’s Assistant is to perform a number of administrative and technical tasks that directly support the effective management of the City’s government. The individual in this position exercises independent judgment and initiative, provides administrative support to the Mayor and City Council and is responsible for addressing public records requests, ensuring publication of City Council meetings, attending City Council meetings, Planning & Zoning meetings, and any other public meetings as needed, maintenance of Municipal Code and official records of the City, and conducting elections. The work is performed under the general direction of the Mayor & City Administrator. The principal duties of this class are performed in a general office environment.”
In my opinion, when the citizens ask the clerk something, they must answer their questions within a certain period of time and in writing. If the form or instructions they provide do not match the law for any reason, the council must accept as a valid form of resolution with the corrections of a law.
Also, I wish that the cities and townships appoint one lawyer, who can guide the citizens in case of citizen’s complaints against the administration. Why do I suggest this? Because, when the city contests against any form of changes, with lawyers paid by the taxpayers, and the citizens try to wade through all the legal confusion, the city usually wins, as they have a war chest of taxpayer money while the taxpayers do not have such funds for lawyers.
The known case of Alex Murdaugh for the murder of his wife and son on June 7, 2021 became a household story. His case started in January 2022, and he was eventually convicted and sent to prison.
However, there was recently news that the court clerk tempered with jurors so she could secure a book deal. Clerk Rebecca Hill penned the memoir “Behind the Doors of Justice.” According to Fox News, Hill pressured jurors to “reach a quick verdict,” so her book can be a best seller. Did her book’s publication have anything to do with the jury’s verdict? Murdaugh’s lawyers filed to have a retrial, as this may be a key factor in having the verdict undone.
After the freezing episodes of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the Senate will be in session again. The doctors gave him a checkup and determined that he did not have a stroke or seizure. However, it happened more than once. He should resign immediately in my opinion.
Have a wonderful week. I’ll talk to you next week.
