By Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull
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Branson City Clerk and newly certified
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It was a night of roses and congratulations when Branson City Clerk Lisa Westfall recently received recognition and certification as a Missouri Registered City Clerk at a recent Branson Board of Aldermen’s Meeting but it took a lot of work, effort, and dedication to get there. The recognition and certification came from the Missouri City Clerks and Finance Officers Association (MoCCFOA), a professional organization that provides education, certification, and support to those serving as city clerks in the state of Missouri. Its recognition and certification of Westfall acknowledges the effort, professionalism, training, and commitment it took to obtain the certification.
According to information received from MoCCFOA, the Missouri Registered City Clerk (MRRC) is the first step in a four tiered certification process designed to encourage the on-going education and growth and development of city clerks in Missouri. The other levels of certification are Missouri Registered City Clerk Continuing (MRCC Continuing), Missouri Registered City Clerk Sustaining (MRCC Sustaining) and the highest level of certification, Missouri Professional City Clerk (MPCC).
To reach the first level of professional certification, Westfall had to undergo an intensive lengthily certification process. It was a process she began in 2004 and which, in addition to on the job experience, required an affirmation of Missouri Clerks’ Code of Ethics, the earning of 100 MoCCFOA points for specialized experience, training, and education, and attendance at the New Clerks Institute.
Westfall said that the training covered a variety of topics such as municipal financing, ethics, sunshine law, human, resources, Robert’s Rules of Order, municipal codes, and other functions relating to the operation of municipalities. She pointed out that the training is so broad based because a lot of citys do not have the benefit of the specialization that Branson has with separate departments for Human Resources, Finance, Communications and Legal etc.
She continued, “Even though I don’t work with it all, it helps to relate to the other departments.” She said that was important because, even with Branson’s specialization, in the performance of her daily duties as city clerk, she is interrelating and interacting with every department on just about a daily basis.
Westfall started her career in 1989 as a court clerk and she says, “Cut my teeth on the court system.” In 1993 she became a Certified Court Administrator and in 1997 was elected president of the Missouri Association for Court Administration. An ancillary duty was that of deputy city clerk and in February of 2005 and, upon the retirement of long time Branson City Clerk, Sandra Williams, was appointed as her replacement. She is still the court administrator and supervises the staff for both the court and the clerk’s office.
Westfall plans to continue her professional development by working towards the highest level of certification that MoCCFOA offers, the Missouri Professional City Clerk (MPCC). In addition to her professional duties as the City Clerk of Branson Westfall is also the President of the Hollister School Board.
Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.
