Updates from the Old Pueblo...

[awalker1829]

I've been off LJ for a bit-mostly due to me being busy doing work and other things. On the work front, I petitioned to have a Letter of Counseling removed from my personnel file. In the ten years I've been with the office, I managed to get two letters for different reasons. Under our regulations, a Letter of Counseling is the least severe formal

Comments

[awalker1829]

Yes. Once in 2011 and once in 2008(?). The one in 2008 was when I was in Legal Records and was something that was blown out of proportion. The one in 2011 involved some indiscretion in the performance of my duties in communicating with private process servers concerning certain questions that were raised regarding certain issues they were facing (and still face). That was a much more serious matter.

That said, there have been significant changes in the Private Process Server Program Certification Program, some of which were related to my relationship with representatives of the two major state process server associations. One was the introduction of an improved state issued Process Server Identification Card. When I took over the duties of Private Process Server Program Administrator for my county, The official identification cards were laminated cardstock with the process server's photograph pasted to the cardstock and the information typed on the card. The bail bondsmen identification card was similar. Anyone could reproduce one of these cards very easily and the process servers and bondsmen were adamant about getting a more professional identification card issued.

The related associations had been complaining to the various Clerks of Superior Courts in the individual counties about this, but had not gotten much accomplished as most of the offices simply refused to talk with them. I told them that as a program administrator under the Arizona Supreme Court's program, we at the county level had no authority to change the design or format of the identification cards. That was something to take to the Arizona Supreme Court. They took their complaints to the Arizona Supreme Court and the Arizona Superior Court Clerk's Association and pressed the issue with them. It was eventually agreed to update the Process Server and Bail Bondsmen Identification Cards to computer generated cards printed on plastic. It was determined that the cards should be issued by the counties and that the ID numbering system would remain virtually unchanged-the only difference would be a two letter prefix on each card to identify the county in which the process server was registered. Originally it was suggested that the numbers be brought into a uniform format, but I and my counterpart in Maricopa County protested on account of the number of certified process servers we oversaw-800+ in Maricopa County and 160+ in my county. We argued successfully that implementing a reorganized numbering system would create mass confusion and be very disruptive.

As for me specifically, our clerk (at the time) wasn't exactly thrilled with this as it would require us to purchase additional equipment. Turns out that wasn't such a big deal as it also enabled us to print our own employee identification cards without having to depend on Superior Court Administration to do it for us. She expressed her displeasure that I communicated directly with the associations and did not bring the matter to her notice. However, there was no obligation under our regulations to report it to her and I wasn't doing anything in violation of policies.