Meet Oakland Borough Clerk Lisa Duncan

Every day, like clockwork, residents arrive at her office with numerous questions about a variety of topics, requests for information and solutions to problems.

Lisa Duncan is Oakland’s borough clerk, the person you are most likely to see when you arrive at the municipal building and the voice you are most likely to hear greeting you on the telephone. She manages to field the many calls every day and sees to it that the callers are served efficiently and effectively.

She also serves the mayor and council by attending all their meetings. Her job there is to reduce the proceedings to the all-important minutes which are then reviewed, approved and archived according to state law. Creating the minutes is the centerpiece of her job. 

Lisa Duncan grew up in Oakland, married an Oaklander and has two children -- a son attending college and a daughter in Indian Hills High School.

She came to work for the municipal government of Oakland part-time in 1988, and since then has made her career working here, rising to her current position of borough clerk by taking state-mandated courses and passing the state examination for the borough clerk job in 2001. Her position requires she take part in continuing education provided by the state.

In dealing with the public, she uses her skills to listen, deal with frustration while being respectful, answering questions, disseminating information and pointing visitors and callers in the right direction. She says the interaction with the public is something she enjoys and values.  One of the most delightful and unique visitors to the municipal building, Duncan notes, is a member of Oakland's Senior Center who occasionally comes to sing the staff a song or two.

Over the years Duncan has experienced the impact of technology and, like many government employes, and has had to adapt to new methods of managing the business of this municipality of nearly 13,000 residents. 

"Oakland is a great town,” she says. “That's why so many stay here or long to return.  The schools, the recreation programs and the residents of Oakland all make it a wonderful place to live in and work for."

This story was written by newsletter correspondent Terri Casaleggio.