I started my position as an assistant in Corporate Administration at the City of Revelstoke in the summer of 2009. I was immediately overwhelmed by the amount of paper being used for the distribution of agendas. At that time there were Committee of the Whole agendas, Council agendas as well as In-Camera agendas for both meetings. I was required to assemble and photocopy 22 copies of each agenda for Council and the Management Team. I also recognized that other departments such as Development Services, Finance and Parks, Recreation and Culture were creating separate Committee Agendas with … [Read more...] about A Clerk’s Guide to Getting Council and Staff Using a Paperless Agenda
I'm a City Clerk
The Ins and Outs of Local Canadian Government Structures
Local Canadian government structures have their own history and nuances. Under the federal government, Canada has regional, provincial and local government bodies, each with different areas of responsibility. Local, or municipal, governments in Canada aren’t very powerful on their own. When they come together under one union, they have a collective impact on federal and provincial law. Local governments have limited funds with which to work, which requires them to work efficiently and effectively, preserving resources wherever it’s possible to do so. Digital solutions for local governments … [Read more...] about The Ins and Outs of Local Canadian Government Structures
The Importance of Data Storage Security and Meeting Accessibility for Local Governments
Local government workers and officials take on huge responsibilities for protecting the public’s data and allowing citizens’ insight into the inner workings of local government. Advancements in technology have made local governments more vulnerable to cybercriminals. As word of a major cyberattack demanding ransomware in the city of Atlanta spread across the nation, local governments became aware of just how defenseless they would be if the same should happen to them. If an attack could cripple a major city’s centralized computer network, how could smaller governments with extremely limited … [Read more...] about The Importance of Data Storage Security and Meeting Accessibility for Local Governments
Meeting Minutes Template for Municipal Clerks
As often as meetings take place, you might think that there would be a solid format and template for taking board meeting minutes. Board meetings are as different as the organizations that require someone to take minutes. The need for customization is the reason that minute-takers have some flexibility in how they record and organize meeting minutes. Meeting minutes provide a legal and official record of board and council meetings. In most cases, minutes will closely follow the agenda for the meeting. Meeting minutes provide a legal record of meetings and can be called into court … [Read more...] about Meeting Minutes Template for Municipal Clerks
How Local Government Leaders Can Stay Connected Through LeadOn
Are you a local government leader who’s had a problem at work and felt like you had no one to share it with? You return to the office day after day, hoping to find a solution, but despite your best efforts, you’re unable to come up with a solution on your own. Unlike other jobs, it’s not like you can run it by the person sitting in the next cubicle. Your family and friends don’t understand your job, so there’s no point in venting to them. You know there’s a solution out there somewhere. You also know that one of your peers might actually have it. Unfortunately, your peers are geographically so … [Read more...] about How Local Government Leaders Can Stay Connected Through LeadOn
Choosing a Board Portal: Why Compliance and Security Matter
Compliance and security are components of good governance. In today’s society, the issues of governance, risk and compliance are becoming increasingly complex. Researchers Nicolas Racz, Edgar Weippl and Andreas Seufert define governance, risk and compliance as “an integrated, holistic approach to organization-wide governance, risk and compliance ensuring that an organization acts ethically correct and in accordance with its risk appetite, internal policies and external regulations through the alignment of strategy, processes, technology and people, thereby improving efficiency and … [Read more...] about Choosing a Board Portal: Why Compliance and Security Matter