PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Superior Court Clerk Barbara Christensen wants to reduce office hours because a staffing shortage is making it difficult to complete required tasks.
In her pitch to the three Clallam County commissioners Monday, Christensen proposed closing public access to the office between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m., and from noon to 12:30 p.m.
“We just don’t have the staffing,” Christensen said.
Commissioners said they will consider changing the hours in the clerk’s office on a short-term basis beginning Nov. 1. They want all departments to have consistent business hours beginning Jan. 1.
“I think there’s a need to be consistent,” Commissioner Steve Tharinger said.
“I’m willing to move forward with this, with the understanding that things might change.”
County Administrator Jim Jones said he would meet with elected officials and department heads to try to come up with a consistent schedule for 2011.
The Superior Court Clerk’s Office lost one part-time staffer this year and will not replace another part-time worker who plans to retire in 2011.
Operating hours
The eight-member office is currently open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“Without additional staff, I am unable to complete all of the services provided by my office,” Christensen wrote in her proposal.
Closing the office for 30 minutes before the start of the 9 a.m. court calendar and during lunch would give staff more time to perform required services, Christensen said.
Such tasks include filing court documents, scheduling hearings and providing a clerk for four courtrooms.
Discretionary duties are staffing the counter, answering phones and bringing court files to judges.
Without electronic court records, Christensen said, she can’t stop providing files to judges. She said she is working on a new imaging system and hopes to have it up and running by 2012.
Each county department has been asked to cut its budget by 3 percent next year or find the same amount in new revenue. This would save $1 million of a projected $2.6 million deficit in the county’s service-providing general fund.
The remaining $1.6 million will be covered by a $9.5 million rainy day reserve fund, according to Jones’ preliminary budget.
Jones will hold a round of budget talks with all elected officials next week. A final budget will be adopted in December.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
