at CITY OF MILFORD in Milford, Delaware, United States
Job Description
Job Summary: The Deputy City Clerk is a specialized professional position with significant
responsibility, supporting a variety of services, including constituent services, council affairs,
policy research, and implementation. This role coordinates meetings for the Planning
Commission, Board of Adjustment, subcommittees, and ad hoc groups, and serves as the
main point of contact for constituents and interest groups on municipal matters. The City
Clerk must maintain impartiality while balancing the interests of the City, its residents, the
Mayor, and the City Council. The position requires handling shifting priorities, managing
recurring tasks such as meeting preparations for the Council, Boards, and Committees,
overseeing municipal and special elections, and maintaining records. Independent decision
making is crucial for success in this role.
The Deputy City Clerk shall be committed to the mission, vision and values of the city and
demonstrate such through ethical conduct, community stewardship, individual initiative, and
responsive service. Must demonstrate leadership, management and technical skills through
effective communication and collaboration, proper use of city resources, progressive
decision-making, personal accountability, and responsibility.
The Deputy City Clerk is a highly motivated, detail-oriented individual responsible for
coordinating and managing the daily activities of the City Clerk’s Office. This position assists
the City Clerk with election services, legislative functions, public information, and other
related duties. The Deputy City Clerk oversees the office’s purchasing system, monitors
budget needs, and ensures that daily tasks are completed efficiently and on time. This
position reviews and processes applications in compliance with City regulations and
procedures. The Deputy City Clerk evaluates, coordinates, and issues special event permits in
collaboration with City staff and external agencies. Additionally, the Deputy City Clerk
performs complex administrative work that requires initiative, sound judgment, and the
ability to collaborate effectively with city staff and the public. The role includes the
responsibility for the publication, filing, indexing, and safekeeping of all City Council
proceedings and other public documents as mandated by law.
Supervision Received: Work is performed under the general supervision of the City Clerk.
Essential Job Functions: An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the
following essential duties:
• Acting City Clerk: Assumes the role of City Clerk during the City Clerk’s absence.
• City Affairs Coordination: Assists in managing and coordinating all City affairs and events by
scheduling, monitoring, and tracking Council proceedings and actions.
• Board & Committee Oversight: Manages and coordinates affairs and events for the Planning
Commission, Board of Adjustment, Tree Preservation & Advisory Board, Parks & Recreation
Advisory Committee, and Community Cemetery Board, including scheduling and tracking
proceedings.
• Administrative Support: Provides support to the City Clerk, Mayor/Council, and staff to
facilitate the efficient conduct of City business.
• Constituent Liaison: Acts as a point of contact for constituents, helping them present concerns
to the City Clerk and Mayor/Council and offering advice on municipal matters.
• Document Preparation: Aids in preparing and publishing ordinances, resolutions,
proclamations, certificates, meeting agendas and minutes, memoranda, documents, and reports
while maintaining strict confidentiality.
• Meeting Records Management: Attends Board, Commission, and Committee meetings; manages
related records, recordings, videos, and minute transcriptions; and distributes materials to
appropriate personnel, while also attending staff and professional meetings as directed.
• Election Support: Assists in preparing and conducting City elections by registering property
owners, maintaining voter registration records, and continually auditing election records.
• Research Support: Conducts research for the City Clerk, Mayor/Council, staff, and citizens as
assigned.
• Administrative Operations: Tracks budgets for the City Clerk and Mayor/Council, maintains
files and records, and coordinates records retention and destruction.
• Application & Membership Oversight: Oversees the application process for Boards,
Commissions, and Committees by distributing applications, updating Mayor/Council
information, tracking appointment expirations, and maintaining membership lists.
• Website Management: Assists with and monitors the City Clerk website by creating and
updating pages, publishing meeting news, and responding to citizen concerns.
• FOIA Coordination: Serves as Assistant FOIA Coordinator by researching, analyzing, and
processing public records requests and coordinating the collection, review, and production of
records for requestors.
Essential Functions, Qualifications, & Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) for Employment:
The Deputy City Clerk must have the following knowledge, skills, and abilities upon application:
Knowledge
• Detailed knowledge regarding the City’s Municipal Code, parliamentary procedures,
election procedures, records retention, database management, technology related to
recording software and variety of computer programs, implementation of the Freedom of
Information Act, and a number of municipal procedures for actions such as rezonings,
annexations, referendums, and the adoption of ordinances.
Skills
• The Clerk’s Office is responsible for maintaining the city’s history and making it available
to the Mayor, Council, and committee members, which is vital to members as they address
longstanding issues that come before them for consideration. The Deputy Clerk researches
current issues and provides historical context to members as they address concerns
related to policy and procedure.
• The Deputy Clerk serves as the Assistant City Record Coordinator to implement and
monitor procedures for managing all city records.
Ensures that all data is managed in conformance with State procedures that dictate
retention records.
• Serves as a consultant to all departments and provides guidance on information storage.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Understands various laws, whether on a local, state, or federal level.
Abilities
• The Deputy City Clerk is responsible for receiving a voluminous amount of information
which is directed to the Mayor and Council through the Clerk’s Office.
• The Deputy City Clerk assists the City Clerk by ensuring the Mayor/Council receive prompt
and accurate information, as lapses in this area can have serious public relations and legal
implications.
• Ability to use the utmost tact and discretion when responding to the needs of those who
solicit their advice.
• When directed, provides advice to public/staff/city officials on how best to accomplish
their goals, within the framework of the requirements set forth in the city’s municipal code.
• Requires high level reading, writing, and verbal skills.
• Communicates on a regular basis with City Clerk, Mayor/City Council, city staff, and
constituents using a high degree of diplomacy and tact.
• Ability to read, interpret, and explain complex information related to State and Municipal
Code, contracts, and policy.
• Requires strong writing skills and a thorough command of the English language, including
grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
