That began to change when Chief Deputy Register of Deeds Jennifer Walker, under the direction of Clerk Forlini, undertook the significant task of bringing clarity to the situation.

After visiting each storage location and assessing the condition and accessibility of the records, Deputy Walker began tracking down historical inventories and piecing them together. This effort provided, for the first time in years, a more complete picture of the office’s storage needs.

Where possible, staff conducted physical inventories and even took sample measurements to better estimate shelving and space requirements—no small feat given the wide variation in record sizes and formats. 

With this information in hand, Clerk Forlini and Deputy Walker worked closely with County contractors to design a permanent, purpose-built storage solution. Additional space adjacent to the existing temporary facility at 32 Market Street was secured, and plans were developed to create a modern environment capable of housing thousands of records safely and efficiently. 

Construction of the new facility was completed late last year, marking a major milestone in the project. Soon after, the first major move began, with all 10,000 rolls of Register of Deeds film successfully relocated to their new home. 

This year, the focus has shifted to the complex process of bringing the remaining records together under one roof. Through careful planning and coordination with County staff and professional movers, teams have begun transferring thousands of books and materials. Shelving configurations have been continually adjusted and refined to ensure that every inch of space is used effectively while still allowing for accessibility and preservation. 

To date, all 3,000 Vital Records books have been successfully housed in the new facility, along with multiple pallets of Register of Deeds materials. As with any project of this scale, there have been challenges along the way—including addressing the weight of certain materials—but progress continues steadily as solutions are developed. 

Today, the new storage facility stands as a state-of-the-art resource for the Clerk’s Office. It features 34 rows of electronic high-density shelving, specialized drawers for film and large-format plans, a dedicated workspace for reviewing and scanning records, and a secure project room for preservation and back-scanning efforts. 

More than just a building, the facility represents a long-term investment in safeguarding the County’s history. By bringing decades—sometimes centuries—of records together into one carefully designed space, the Clerk’s office is ensuring that these important documents are not only preserved, but also better organized and more accessible for years to come.