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City Manager Form of Government
By Let's Talk Annapolis :: Thursday, Sep 10, 2009

By Ellen O. Moyer

This issue of the City Manager form of government has surfaced at every city election for the last 20 years.

I’m not sure how much the public really understands about the changes that are being proposed.

If the proposed changes were to ever take effect, the ultimate authority for budget making and hiring and firing of City staff would rest with a non-elected person. In fact, under the proposed system, elected representatives are precluded from interfacing with a department head.

Is this an assault on representative government in the City of Annapolis?

No one would suggest that the school Superintendent, County Executive or Governor not interface with their cabinet.

The idea of changing our form of government needs substantial dialogue by citizens throughout Annapolis.
To promote this dialogue, I will resurrect the Let’s Talk community conversations that in 2006 engaged over 900 citizens as part of our comprehensive planning process.

 Those in favor of the City Manager form of government often raise the idea that the City needs a “professional” government.

The current City Administrator handles the day-to-day functions of the City, meeting weekly with staff committees on Land Use, Capital Projects and Public Works; has served as an administrator for the County
Executive and a Director of a State agency.

The Director of DNEP has been a City Administrator and a City Manager.

Four of our Department Directors have law degrees; several have advanced degrees in Business Management. All Directors have won awards for themselves or their departments.

In terms of experience, credentials and dedication to public service, I will stack current City staff up against any local government, city or county, in the state.

The City of Annapolis has thrived for over 300 years with an elected Mayor as the head of the City. Our nation went to the polls to vote in the most important and exciting Presidential election in recent memory. Is now the time to deny the residents of our City the same privilege of knowing who is to be held accountable for successes and failures?

To stimulate civil discussion of this blog, I offer the following questions:

1. How does extending budget and hiring and firing authority to a non-elected person impact representative government?
   
2. Would citizen committees have any value under a City Manager form of government?
   
3. How would the role of community associations change under a Council Manager form of government?
   
4. What would be your expectations of the role of Aldermen and the Mayor?
   
5. What is the problem we are trying to solve?
   
6. Will placing the executive role of government on a non-elected person close the doors to transparency?
   
7. Will reducing elected leaders to Figure-heads fracture lines of accountability between you and your Aldermen?
   
8. Do we really need to elect a Mayor if executive authority for developing the budget, hiring and firing directors and micro-managing city departments is vested entirely in a non-elected person?
   
9. Would you choose this system for a or Governor?
   
10. Does the proposed change of government reflect the intention of government “of, by and for the people”envisioned in the Declaration of Independence?

    1996 Judge Duden's City Manager Report

    
    
    
    

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Reply to jack9233 about Market House

By Ellen O. Moyer :: Monday, Sep 14, 2009 :: 7pm

Hope you like the Market House today. A fast food court it isn’t and will be redesigned in January.