Laserfiche WebLink
<br />The Council-Manager Form of Government: <br /> <br />Page 1 of7 <br /> <br />The Council-Manager Form of Government: <br />Answers to Your Questions <br /> <br />Q: What is the council-manager form of government, which is used in so many cities, towns, <br />and counties? <br /> <br />A: The council-manager form is the system oflocal government that combines the strong political <br />leadership of elected officials in the form of a governing body, with the strong managerial experience of <br />an appointed local government manager. The governing body, commonly known as the council, may <br />also 'be referred to as the commission -or the board The cOurlcil-manager form establishes a ' <br />representative system where all power is concentrated in the elected council and where the council hires <br />a vrQf~ssiQnaUy train~d manag~r tQ Qv~rs~~ the delivery Qf publi~ servi<tes. <br /> <br />Q: Is it a responsive form of government? <br /> <br />A: Tn councll-manager government, the mayor or chairperson o/the governing body and council <br />members are the leaders and policy makers elected to represent the community and to concentrate on <br />policy issues that are responsive to citizens' needs and wishes. The manager is appointed by the <br />governing body to carry out policy and ensure that the entire community is being served. If the manager <br />is not responsive to the governing body's wishes, the governing body has the authority to terminate the <br />manager at any time. In that sense, a manager's respOllsiveness' is tested daily. ' <br /> <br />Q: Are all council-manager governments structured the same way? <br /> <br />A: No. One of the most attractive features is that the council-manager form is adaptable to local <br />conditions and preferences. For example, some communities have councils that are elected at large <br />while other QOUUQils are eleQted by distriQt or by a Qombination of an at-large and by-distriQt struQture. <br />In some local governments the mayor or chairperson is elected at large by the voters; others are elected <br />by their colleagues on the governing body. <br /> <br />Q: What is the council's function? <br /> <br />A: The council is the legislative body; its members are the community's decision makers. Power is <br />centralized in the elected council, which approves the budget and determines the tax rate, for example. <br />The council also focuses on the community's goals, major projects, and such long-term considerations <br />as community growth, land use development, capital improvement plans, capital financing, and strategic <br />planning. The council hires a professional manager to carry out the administrative responsibilities and <br />supervises the manager' s perfQrman~e, <br /> <br />http://www2.icma.org/upload/library/IQ/114238.htm <br /> <br />1/16/2003 <br />