VENTURA : Longtime ‘Voice’ of City Hall Is Getting Some Relief

Answering nearly 800 telephone calls a day, switchboard operator Aileen Bogner was the voice of Ventura City Hall for more than two decades. But that changed two weeks ago, when a voice-mail system was installed.

Bogner, 63, still fields calls at the city’s main switchboard, just not as many as she once did, she said. Eventually, the new system will take most of the messages while Bogner spends her time on bookkeeping and other clerical duties.

But Bogner, who has worked for the city for 24 years, said she doesn’t mind the new electronic operator. It’s just progress.

“I’m looking forward to the chances to learn the new technology,” she said.

Until callers are used to Ventura’s new phone system, Bogner said she will help calm nerves--something with which she’s had lots of experience.

“Several years ago a woman called who was having a baby,” she said. “I was able to do a conference call and connect her to 911.”

Once, Bogner said, she received a bomb scare and alerted authorities to evacuate the building. “We didn’t dare ignore it,” she said.

She said she constantly gave directions to lost callers, who will now have to brave the city’s complex electronic phone system before finding their way.

“She has been the front-runner of representation for the city,” City Clerk Barbara Kam said. “She’s one of those kinds of people who can exemplify service.

“The voice mail does not mean we will not need Aileen. . . . It’s just part of the total system we’ve been working on updating for at least a couple of years.”