Interview with Township Clerk: Khaled Madin | Cover, 18

Morris County Sheriff’s CrimeStoppers which is a non-profit organization comprised of dedicated volunteers in the fight against crime and strives to make Morris County as safe and secure place for its residents.

Similarly, I served as the Board Attorney for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Citizens Academy Alumni Association, a non-profit community outreach organization which partners with the FBI to respond to the needs in our local communities. For many years, I have also been a member of numerous organizations which serve our community. For instance, I have been a member of organizations such as the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany which serves the needs of children in our community.

I am a true believer in the saying that the greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the actions of its members and I think its important that we all do our part.

Q. What is the role of a Municipal Clerk?

The Municipal Clerk is a Constitutional officer and one of few positions that a municipality is statutorily required to have.

The Municipal Clerk has certain statutory duties that are to be performed which include records management, dissemination of information to the public through the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), chief administrative officer in all Elections in the municipality, Registrar, administering and recording oaths of office, and Licensing to name a few.

The role of a Municipal Clerk is misunderstood as clerks are often thought to fulfill a primarily clerical role, but municipal clerks work behind the scenes to ensure the smooth operation of local government.

In fact, municipal clerks are often the first and most direct link between residents and government. The position is also responsible for providing transparency in local government and assisting in the transitions of government when there is a change of administration.

Q. In your opinion, what is the most important duty of a Municipal Clerk?

A. A Municipal Clerk has many important duties but two in particular stand out. The first is the assistance that the Clerk provides to a new administration during the transitioning of government from one administration to another. This is a very important role as the Municipal Clerk ensures continuity in governance during a time of temporary instability.

The second, and perhaps the most important role of the Clerk, is to ensure transparency of government. Transparency is the fundamental component of a democratic government. It allows the citizens full access to the actions and decisions of their governing officials and keeps them informed as to any safety and security concerns in their communities. Finally, and most importantly, transparency promotes accountability and trust in their elected officials.

These essential roles along with all of the other responsibilities would not be possible without the Municipal Clerk’s Office. Specifically, Leslie Miller, our Deputy Municipal Clerk and staff members Lucy Jensen and Mary Moore all of whom work so diligently every day to make sure our government is giving its community excellent service.