NJ: Middlesex county clerk asks for more time to fix computerized record system--software problems cited

By Associated Press, 9/17/2000 18:59

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) Middlesex County's trouble-prone property record system, which once inexplicably listed the Virgin Mary as a property owner, has forced the county clerk to ask the state to extend a Sept. 30 deadline in order to solve software problems.

Improvements have been made since the January discovery of the divine property holder, according to Albin Wagner, chief of the state records management bureau. But title searchers have said its continued problems could call into question land transactions throughout the county if title searches are invalidated.

Wagner, who inspected the system on Friday, said software upgrades have not been completed. County Clerk Elaine Flynn said she planned to ask the state Division of Archives and Records Management for extra time.

The records division in June approved a computer imaging system that would allow the county to replace hundreds of books that record all real estate transactions. County officials at that time were given the Sept. 30 deadline.

Flynn said she expects the software program to be operating by December.

''I know the problem will be taken care of,'' she told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Sunday's editions.

The 40-member title searchers guild has complained about the computerized system. Phyllis Maurath, a leader of guild, said she and her colleagues would monitor the changes.

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/261/region/Middlesex_clerk_asks_for_more_:.shtml

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), September 18, 2000

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And the background noise of y2k appears to roll ever-on.

-- JackW (jpayne@webtv.net), September 18, 2000.