Branden Meyer for Clerk of Courts

Accomplishments

 

During his first 7 months in office, Branden Meyer has restored integrity to the office

by accomplishing the following:

 

Increased public access to the courts and made technology improvements

• Multiple updates and changes to the Clerk’s website (Continuous)

• Direct phone numbers for each department in the Clerk’s office (Newly created)

• Online and over the phone credit card payments (In progress)

• Online access to court documents and electronic filing (In progress)    

• Improving directional signage in the Hall of Justice (In progress)

 

Improved communication with the public, other county departments and staff

• During my first week in office, I held an all staff meeting to establish my expectations from the office staff, some employees had never met one another.

• Met with all employees of the Clerk’s office via one-on-one meetings to learn the job duties of each employee. 

• Improved communications between employees within the Clerk’s office and, externally, with the Commissioner’s office, Prosecutor’s office and the other county offices we deal with.

• Established regularly occurring staff meetings, with all Clerk’s office departments, monthly in most cases and periodically in others.

• Had in person meetings with auto dealers.

• Allow use of the Clerk’s conference room by other departments.

• To be accessible to the public, I have my direct phone number and email address listed on every page of the Clerk’s website. 

 

Created new public information guides and forms

• Title Department Auto & Boat Title Information Guide (Newly created)

• Passport Information Guide (Newly created)

• Checklist for Domestic Relations Filings (Newly created)

• Packet for Civil, Criminal, Juvenile/Probate and Municipal Appeals (Newly created)

• Packet for Domestic Relations Appeals (Newly created)

• Court Ordered Title Packet for a Single Motor Vehicle (Newly created)

• Court Ordered Title Packet for Multiple Motor Vehicles (Newly created)

• Redaction Policy (Revised/Updated)

 

Created and updated office policies and procedures

• Cash, Check and Credit Card Handling Procedures (Newly created)

• Bond Payment Policy (Newly created)

• Sick Leave Notification and Documentation Policy (Newly created)

• Accrual, Usage and Approval of Personal Time Policy (Newly created)

• Continuity of Operation (COOP Plan) and Disaster Recovery Plan (Revised/Updated)

• Legal Department Office Procedure (In progress)

• Title Department Office Procedure (In progress)

• Communicated with dealerships via written memos regarding title office procedural changes.

 

Implemented staff training (including mandatory ethics training)

• Ohio Clerk of Courts Assoc. (OCCA) Meetings- Monthly

• Ohio Ethics Commission Online Ethics Training- Spring 2014

• Ohio County Archivists & Records Managers Assoc. (CARMA) Spring Conference- April 2014

• Ohio Electronic Records Committee Forum- March 2014

• Ohio Judicial Conference Court Technology Sessions- May 2014

• National Passport Center Passport Acceptance Agent Training- July 2014

• OCCA Title Seminar- September 2014

• CARMA Fall Conference- October 2014

• Fairfield County Leadership Conference- October 2014  

• Public Records Law Training- October 2014

*All attended at little or no cost to the county.

 

Increased efficiency and cost savings

• Reviewed options to save money and increase productivity with certified mailings and met with both the Franklin County and Fairfield County Municipal Courts regarding their processes.

• Future implementation of Employee Self-Serve, automated system for staff requests for leave through the county’s financial system and Time Clock Plus, an automated employee time sheet.

• Additional credit card machine was added to the 4th floor Domestic Section.  Previously customers had to go to the 2nd floor to pay their court costs.  Now, all offices are able to accept credit card payments directly from the customers.

• Researching solutions for records storage and records retention requirements- met with other counties regarding a centralized storage location and/or county records department.

• Began preparation for the future Fairfield County Compensation Plan by reviewing all staff job descriptions and salaries.