Editorial: Hanging up is no way to treat public

Monday, April 7, 2003 | 8:59 a.m.

Frances Deane, who was elected recorder in November and took office in January, says the size of the work backlog she inherited justified her decision on March 13 to shut down the office's phone for weeks. Deane assigned every employee, including those who normally handle phone calls, to the job of filing backlogged documents and working with the hundreds of people who daily do business with her office in person.

Deane's goal is praiseworthy but her order to stop answering the phones was a mistake. Many people who use the services of the recorder's office are disabled or out of state and must transact their business by telephone. Through no fault of their own they were dealt a major disservice.

The fact that Deane inherited such a mess gives credence to County Manager Thom Reilly's assertion that management of the office needs fundamental change. He is asking the Legislature to approve a bill that would allow him to eliminate the elected position of recorder. Reilly says the county clerk, an elected official, could handle the recorder's responsibilities for filing legal documents, including marriage licenses and property records. We agree that electing the recorder is an outdated idea, but would like to see the recorder become a staff position, answering to an assistant county manager. This would lead to better accountability and help ensure that such backlogs as inherited by Deane never happen again.