2007 News

March 21, 2007

Paperless Solutions for Bucks County Row Offices
Commissioners Approve Contract to Modernize Workflow

The chair of the Bucks County records retention committee, Clerk of Courts Mary Smithson, today announced that the commissioners approved a contract with Paperless Solutions, Inc., in order to provide document imaging, work flow process and storage solutions for several row offices.

The Register of Wills will see improvements in technology with the approved contract, and will feature a completely interactive system that will provide thorough workflow processes for estates, guardianships, trusteeships, adoptions, marriage licenses and Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax. Moving forward, all records will be automated and incorporated into a Document Imaging System for records management and retrieval, as well as those records currently in the mainframe.

According to Register of Wills Barbara Reilly, “This project will not only improve the efficiency of the department, but will also ensure file integrity and security.” Supreme Court and legislative mandates requiring upgrades can be incorporated quickly without additional software purchases. Financial transactions and records will be processed automatically eliminating potential for error. This process will facilitate file transfers to county, state, federal and court agencies. More importantly, the public will be provided easier and faster access to public records.

“This project is exemplary of the partnership that exists with our row offices, toward operational efficiencies and cost savings for taxpayers,” noted Chief Operating Officer Dave Sanko, who points out that the project is being paid for by fees collected by the row offices without impact to the operating budget.

The solution also means a modernized case management system for Prothonotary Pat Bachtle, whose office is responsible for the timely processing of documents from the civil division of the Court of Common Pleas. A modernized software suite will incorporate the capabilities of the current workflow processes, while allowing an increase in functionality.

“The benefits that will be realized by using this new system will include an improvement in the efficiency of our workflow, coupled with an ability to meet future needs without additional equipment or personnel.” Bachtle also mentioned the new system is fully compatible with the county’s future operating systems as the mainframe is phased out.

Information Technology’s Don Jacobs elaborates. “Strategically, this is crucial to our modernization plan and positions the county with yet another forward-looking system which will be able to sustain for a long time to come. Operationally as an example, IT will no longer have to research, purchase, customize, and test separate software application such as mailing label software, as our operating systems change over the years.”