Council-Manager Government
In the
Council-Manager form of government, the Council is the governing body of
the city and elected by the public. The City Manager is hired by the
Council to carry out the policies it establishes. The Council usually
consists of 5 to 9 members including a Mayor (or Council President) who
is either selected by the Council or elected by the people as defined in
the city charter. The size of the Council is generally smaller than
that of a Mayor-Council municipality and council elections are usually
nonpartisan.
Duties
The
Council provides legislative direction while the City Manager is
responsible for day-to-day administrative operations of the city based
on the Council’s recommendations. The Mayor and Council are responsible
for setting policy, approving the budget, and determining the tax rate.
City Manager
The City Manager serves as the Council’s chief advisor. The City
Manager also serves at the pleasure of the Council and is responsible
for preparing the budget, directing day-to-day operations, and hiring
and firing personnel.
Mayor
Typically, the Mayor is recognized as the political head of the
municipality but is a member of the legislative body and does not have
the power to veto legislative actions.