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City Manager
Duties of the City Manager
- By charter, the City Manager shall be the administrative head of the government of the city. He or she shall be chosen by the City Commission for an indefinite term and may be removed at the discretion of the Commission.
- The City Manager shall devote his/her entire time to the discharge of his official duties, attend all meetings of the Commission, keep the Commission advised of the affairs and needs of the City, and make reports of all affairs and departments of the City.
- The City Manager shall see that all ordinances are enforced and that provisions of all franchises, leases, contracts, permits, and privileges granted by the City are observed.
- The Manager shall designate a City Recorder, and administrate over and supervise city officers and employees except over the Commission or over the judicial activities of the municipal judge.
- The Manager shall act as purchasing agent for all departments and further, all purchasing shall be made by requisition signed by the Manager.
- The Manager shall be responsible for preparing and submitting to the budget committee the annual budget estimates and such reports as that body requests.
- The Manager shall supervise the operation of all public utilities owned and operated by the City and shall have general supervision over all city property.
- The Manager shall be entitled to sit with the City Commission, but shall have no vote on questions before it.
- What is the council-manager form of government?
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The council-manager form is the system of local government that combines the strong political leadership of elected officials in the form of a council or other governing body, with the strong managerial experience of an appointed local government manager. The form establishes a representative system where all power is concentrated in the elected council and where the council hires a professionally trained manager to oversee the delivery of public services.
In council-manager government, council members are the leaders and policy makers elected to represent various segments of the community and to concentrate on policy issues that are responsive to citizens' needs and wishes. The manager is appointed by council to carry out policy and ensure that the entire community is being served. If the manager is not responsive to the council's wishes, the council has authority to terminate the manager at any time. In that sense, a manager's responsiveness is tested daily.
- What is the City Council's role?
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The council is the legislative body; its members are the community's decision makers. Power is centralized in the elected council, which approves the budget and determines the tax rate, for example. The council also focuses on the community's goals, major projects, and such long-term considerations as:
- Community growth
- Land use development
- Capital improvement plans
- Capital financing
- Strategic planning
The council hires a professional manager to carry out the administrative responsibilities and supervises the manager's performance.
- What is the City Manager's function?
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The manager is hired to serve the council and the community and to bring to the local government the benefits of training and experience in administering local government projects and programs on behalf of the governing body. The manager prepares a budget for the council's consideration; recruits, hires, and supervises the government's staff; serves as the council's chief adviser; and carries out the council's policies. Council members and citizens count on the manager to provide complete and objective information, pros and cons of alternatives, and long-term consequences.