The Council/Manager Plan

 

The Manager
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 councils consideration; recruits, hires, and supervises the governments staff; serves as the councils chief adviser; and carries out the councils policies. Council members and citizens count on the manager to provide complete and objective information, pros and cons of alternatives, and long term consequences. The manager makes policy recommendations to the council, but the council may or may not adopt them and may modify the recommendations. The manager is bound by whatever action the council makes.

 

At Will Service
Managers serve at the pleasure of the council or governing body. They are evaluated based on their responsiveness to the council and to the community and on their ability to provide efficient and effective services. If the administrator is not responsive to the elected officials, they can be fired by a majority vote of the council, consistent with local laws, ordinances, or employment agreements they may have with the council. Control is always in the hands of the elected representatives of the people. He or she may be terminated at any time.

 

Job Skills
Todays managers must posses the management know-how to build strong communities, if not from the ground up, then by ensuring the continuous improvement of community service. They must have a commitment to maintaining public trust and confidence in local government and improving the quality of life for all residents. Most managers will have a masters or a professional degree and years of experience in local government management.

 

Typical duties of the manager:

* Work with elected official as they develop polices. The manager may discuss problems and recommendations, propose new plans, or discuss issues that affect the community and its residents.

* Ensure that laws and polices approved by elected officials are equitably enforced throughout the city.

* Seek feed back from residents and members of the business community to address and solve problems.

* Prepare the annual budget, submit it to elected officials for approval, and implement it once approved.

* Supervise department heads, administrative personnel, other employees, and top appointees.

* Recruit, hire and supervise the workforce of the governmental body.

* Solicit bids from contractors and select or recommend the appropriate individual(s) or organization(s) to perform the work.

* Investigate citizen complaints and problems within the administrative organization and recommend changes to elected officials.

* Manage the day-to-day operations of the city, town, or county, which may include public works, public safety, planning and economic development, parks and recreation, libraries, youth services, recycling and utilities.

* Apply for and administer federal, state, and private foundation grant funding.

* Facilitate the flow and understanding of ideas and information between and among elected officials, employees and citizens.

 

Ethical Conduct
Managers who are members of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) agree to abide by a strict Code of Ethics. The code specifies 12 ethical principles of personal and professional conduct, including dedication to the cause of good government. Members believe in the effectiveness of representative democracy and the value of government services provided equitably to residents within a community. They are also committed to standards of honesty and integrity more vigorous than those required by the law.

 

 

 

 

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Michigan Local Government Management Association, P.O. Box 1487, Ann Arbor, MI 48106