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<br />The Council-Manager Form of Government: <br /> <br />Page 2 of7 <br /> <br />Q: Where does the mayor or chairperson of the governing body fit in? <br /> <br />A: Mayors or chairpersons in council-manager communities are key political leaders and policy <br />developers-and their duties, responsibilities, and-authorities depend on the organization's charter. In <br />council-manager communities, typically the mayor or chairperson presides at council meetings, serves <br />as a spokesperson for the community, facilitates cOll111mnication and understanding between elected and <br />appointed officials, assists the council in setting goals and advocating policy decisions, and serves as a <br />promoter and defender of the community. In addition, the mayor or chairperson serves as a key <br />representative in intergovernmental relations. The mayor or chairperson, council, and manager <br />constitute a policy-development and management team. <br /> <br />Q: What is the manager's function? <br /> <br />A: The manager is hired to serve the council and the community and to bring to the local <br />government the benefits of training and experience in administering local goveniinent projects and <br />pmgrams em behalf ofthe governing body. The manager prepares a budget for the council's <br /><1Qnsideration; re<truits, hin~s, and supervises the government's s41ff; serves as the <1QlJU<;il' s <;hief <br />adviser; and carries out the council's policies. Council members and citizens count on th@manag@rto <br />provide complete and objective information, the pros and cons ofaltematives, and long-term <br />consequences. <br /> <br />Q: What is the cost to the local government of appointing a professional manager? <br /> <br />A: Local governments have found that overall costs actually have been reduced with competent <br />management. Savings come in the form of reduced operating costs, increased efficiency and <br />productivity, improved revenue collection, or effective use of technology. <br /> <br />Q: Does the manager participate in policy determination? <br /> <br />A: The manager makes policy recommendations to the council, but the council mayor may not <br />adopt them and may modifY the recommendations. The manager is bound by whatever action the <br />CQuncil takes, <br /> <br />http://www2.icma.org/uploadllibrary/IQ/114238.htm <br /> <br />1/16/2003 <br />