Saturday, February 14, 2009

AREAS OF CONCERN 2: GETTING RECORDS ON LINE: PART 2

In our February 11, 2009 article, we looked at what Mrs. Johnson said in her SR Candidates Blog on October 14, 2008. In this article on the continuing series “Areas of Concern,” we will continue to look at Mrs. Johnson failure to get this job done.

Let us look at the SR article: “Q&A Live: Clerk of Courts candidates answer your questions” which can found in its entirety here.

The SR reader posed this question to the candidates:

“Q: What changes, if any should be put in place as to the access to public records and the public relations attitude of the staff?”

Johnson’s reply: “I will answer the last part of the question first. I am quite concerned that the attitude of my staff has been questioned! Of course, there will be complaints once in a while, but I feel that the Clerk's staff is very good with customer relations. One has only to speak to the supervisor or Barbara if there is ANY problems or concerns. Public relations is very important to me. We are here to serve the public with consideration and respect. As stated several times, a WEB service will be created early 2009. WEB SERVICE- court records online, is one of our biggest goals. Just stop and think: This is not only a giant stop for the public, but an assest (sic) to the office- will allow the clerk to handle many more mandated duties. Who would not want that. (emphasis added by RBJFO editor).

Let’s take a look at this more closely. She said, “WEB service will be created early 2009.” Well, it’s mid February. What is Mrs. Johnson’s definition of “Early 2009?” I was in that office yesterday and I found NO EVIDENCE whatsoever of court records going on line. Furthermore, after asking several of her staff, they too had no idea when that would take place. Now perhaps Mrs. Johnson does have something in the works and being the great, “non-communicator” that she has proven to be, just has not relayed that information to her staff. But I highly doubt it.

She goes on to say, “WEB SERVICE- court records online, is one of our biggest goals. Just stop and think: This is not only a giant stop for the public, but an assest (sic) to the office- will allow the clerk to handle many more mandated duties. Who would not want that.”

That’s correct Mrs. Johnson, who wouldn’t want that. Apparently you don’t want that because it has not been done yet. YOU are the one who doesn’t want the “giant step for the public.” YOU are the one who does not want to have your staff to be able “to handle the many other mandated duties,” that your staff has not been able to do because YOU have not put the records on line yet.
To you the voter I ask: Does this look like she is doing the job that she was elected by YOU THE VOTERS AND TAX PAYERS of Erie County to do?

Part 3 in this series will deal with funding for getting the records on line.

No comments:

Post a Comment