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City Manager Form of Government
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. 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 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: 1996 Judge Duden's City Manager Report
Hope you like the Market House today. A fast food court it isn’t and will be redesigned in January.
Lets Talk Annapolis has been the City’s blog for 1 ½ years. I wrote the questions to consider, relative to the city manager months ago. The same questions were sent to community associations in a letter from me a year ago. Most Cities as well as the state have blogs for conversations with citizens on key issues. And by the way, your allegation that I demonize Trudy McFall…. Really. Even an honest person like yourself would agree that it is legitimate to ask about the investigation from the attorney general into double dipping as reported in the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun in 1994. You would want to know even though your words appear to support a cover-up.
Dear Moderator: Who is "Let's Talk Annapolis." This post is written in first person. If this is a conversation, don't resident deserve to know who they are talking to? Thanks for posting my question? Jane Lawrence
The citizens of Annapolis need and deserve at least one elected representative who represents the entire city. That would be the mayor. The efforts to make the mayor's position only a figure head is simply a power play by the aldermen. Who wouldn't want to give themselves such power to direct City government? The equivalent would be for the US House of Representatives to change the Constitution so that the President becomes a figure head. I don't believe this should be on the ballot this year. It is too important to rush to judgement without having an outside group study the issue. Annapolis is so small that the whole concept that the Mayor cannot be in charge is ludicrous. The City's budget is a pittance in comparison to the County Board of Education. The number of departments is miniscule, and the number of emplyees is less than Department of Aging. So what is the real issue? That there are a handful of people on the City Council who want to turn back the clock to the 1950s when Annapolis was an isolated segregated backwater. It's not possible. And making the City Manager the powers of a dictator isn't going to make this a better place to live and work and start a business. Let's tell the truth. The Market House deal with Dean and DeLuca fell through because the Council meddled and wanted them to carry milk and eggs and other loss leaders. Businesses can't make it downtown because the Council keeps imposing regulations that make it impossible like mandating sprinkler systems and not letting them have reasonable signage outside their stores. And you want to give them more power? Let's have a Blue Ribbon Commission to study this issue and come back with recommendations so people can judge it on its merits and not smoke and mirrors.
The Duden report was selected because it did not take a side, but rather explored all sides of the issue. As you say, the Hillman Commission recommends one side of the issue. With that said, I agree that more information needs to be available so please send the Hillman Commission report, and we will attach it as well as the Duden report on the blog site. I hope the next reply you make will have your position included.
Why does the official City of Annapolis website only post the Duden report, when there was a Hillman Commission in 2002 that recommends the City Manager form of government? That is the most recent finding, and more pertinent. Why are the only entries on this website in opposition to the concept? Is that why no one is interested in participating in this discussion? There would be more dialogue if the Mayor invited other points of view to post their positions and invite comment.
There are reasons to support or oppose any style of government. The reason why many support a city manager system is not, as some would have us believe, because of the current mayor. It is mainly because we believe in separating executive from legislative powers and because we need a highly qualified, experienced person to be our chief administrative officer. We have never and are not likely going to ever get such a person from within our city. We may elect a leader, but a manager? A mayor runs on leadership and should govern with leadership. That mayor and the council can hire a trained and certified person to actually manage the day to day affairs of government. Remember--proposing a budget (city mgr.) is a lot different than approving it (city council). I have posted many articles and comments about this, including a piece opposed to the city manager style by councilman Josh Cohen at www.annapoliscapitalpunishment.blogspot.com.
As the Mayor’s Public Information Officer, I can tell you that she responds to no less than 20 calls, letters and e-mails daily. I am surprised that you have not received a return on your call, letter or e-mail, or are you just speaking in general? Please notify me at rwardlaw@annapolis.gov if you are having trouble. Thanks for your comments on the issue of the City Manager.
Can't be any worse than a mayor that does not return phone calls, does not respond to hand written letters nor will she answer an email. So if it will improve government response to private citizens. I'm all for it.
I agree, why fix something that's not broken.
Are we to assume that there is a codified description of the change that we are asked to comment on? As I understand it to date, there is no single option for us to consider. I believe that the pertinent question for the people today is: what is wrong with the current administration and if there is, how should it be changed. Once the first question is answered, we have a rational dialog, until then, we are tilting windmills. dale
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