Countywide : Recorder’s Office Undergoing Revamp

Changes are underway to bring more efficient management to the troubled Orange County recorder’s office.

Responding to concerns by the Orange County Grand Jury, county officials said this week that the recorder’s office is undergoing a series of changes to bring speedier service to hundreds of residents and businesses.

Key in those plans is the proposed installation of an automated filing system that would provide instant access to thousands of real estate and loan documents filed with the Santa Ana office each day, officials said.

Currently, it takes at least two days for documents to be recorded, and recent backlogs have forced employees to work six days a week in an attempt to keep the system up to date.

“This will give people access to the documents they need right away,” Recorder Lee A. Branch said.

The grand jury reviewed management troubles in the office after the County Board of Supervisors issued an unprecedented censure of Branch earlier this year. The board cited Branch for contributing to numerous office inefficiencies and found that he had sexually harassed female employees.

After its review, the grand jury expressed similar concerns about the lack of modernization in the office but said it could not substantiate allegations of sexual harassment involving Branch.

Branch faces a runoff election in November against County Clerk Gary L. Granville for the newly created clerk-recorder post.