Clerks & Recorders

From 1903 to 1944 the Office of the Town Recorder was an elected position and was charged with many of the responsibilities of today's City Manager and Municipal Court Judge, serving as the Justice of the Peace.  In 1944 the City Charter was revised and established the Council-Manager form of government and made the Recorder an appointed position. In 1957, Recorder Nell Martin retired and was appointed to the newly created position of Treasurer-Recorder, acting as the part-time Clerk of the City Council. 

For most of the next three decades the positions of Recorder and Clerk were separate although the positions were reunited under Dorothy Wilson Farrell and Laurie Perkin from 1974-1984.  In the late 1980's the Finance Director also served as City Recorder.  Since 1991 the positions of Recorder and Clerk have once again been reunited under the Office of the City Recorder.

All open regular and special meetings and work sessions shall be... recorded and shall be made available to the public within a reasonable time after the meeting in the office of the City Recorder. (Ord. 1988 § 4, 2008; Ord. 1812 § 4, 1996: Ord. 1480 § 3(G), 1981)

...all ordinances and resolutions shall be attested to by the City Recorder. (Ord. 1988 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1480 § 2(C), 1981)

The City Recorder is designated the local elections officer for the purpose of carrying out the election function under State law. (Ord. 1463 § 1, 1980)

The Recorders and Clerks of the Town and City of Milwaukie Since Incorporation

For more information visit the Office of the City Recorder's page.