[RP TownTalk] Change in Government

Fri Mar 4 16:07:52 UTC 2016

Alan,

Thanks for this very clear and well written information!  You answered my
questions thoroughly!

Marilyn

On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 10:54 PM, Alan K. Thompson <
akthompson at riverdaleparkmd.gov> wrote:

> Dear Marilyn,
>
> The CEO (the title of the position is "Town Manager") is responsible for
> implementing/executing the policies created by the Town Council (which now
> includes the Mayor, as a full member).  While this is *part* of what the
> Mayor does right now, the Mayor also represents the Town politically at
> various events (the Maryland Municipal League has a meeting of mayors every
> year, and there are various other events including high-level meetings with
> other municipalities to discuss issues affecting everyone), and works to
> lead the Council by making sure we know what's going on outside of our own
> wards.  The Mayor will continue to do the important work of leading the
> Council and representing the Town to the outside world, but a lot of
> day-to-day decisions -- like deciding whether we need a new contractor for
> IT support, and similar decisions - will be handled by the Town Manager.
>
> There isn't a specific process for _hiring_ a Town Manager, though we do
> have a traditional process that we've followed for all of the department
> heads:
>
>    - creating a committee of local government executives to review
>    applications (the committee is composed of different people depending on
>    whether it's Public Works, General Government, or Police) ,
>    - advertising the position,
>    - reviewing the applications
>    - narrowing it down to a small number of applicants (typically 3-4),
>    - Council interviews of the narrowed-down list, and
>    - selection of a final candidate.
>
> This is how we hired all three of the current department heads, and I
> believe that we will follow the same process for the Town Manager.
>
> The process for _removing_ the Town Manager is much more specific, and I
> can provide the details if you would like me to.  The idea is to be fair
> and let them defend themselves, and to have a minimum severance package
> (typically a few months pay).  I think this process will allow us to
> attract better applicants -- the job can disappear suddenly if there is a
> "wave" election, and providing a little financial buffer makes the job more
> attractive.
>
> Please let me know if you want more details, or if I didn't answer your
> questions.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Alan
>
>
> On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 10:59 AM, Marilyn Schoppet <marilyn at schoppet.net>
> wrote:
>
>> Alan,
>>
>> Does a CEO take the place of the Mayor?  You mentioned the selection
>> process for the Town Manager.  Can you be more specific?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Marilyn
>> Ward 2
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 9:57 AM, Audrey Bragg <abragg7393 at aol.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Thank you Alan for your detailed response.  I really appreciate it.
>>> Audrey
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Alan K. Thompson <akthompson at riverdaleparkmd.gov>
>>> To: Audrey Bragg <abragg7393 at aol.com>; TownTalk <
>>> TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
>>> Sent: Wed, Mar 2, 2016 9:15 pm
>>> Subject: Re: Change in Government
>>>
>>> Hi Audrey,
>>>
>>> Thank you for your interest in this.  I'm happy to answer your questions
>>> for the current draft, but things may change because of feedback from the
>>> citizens and the Council.  I'll answer your questions after each one below.
>>>
>>> On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 6:24 PM, Audrey Bragg <abragg7393 at aol.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Just reading the Town Crier and Mayor's report regarding the change in
>>>> the town government.  A professional manager will be in charge of the town
>>>> instead of the Mayor.  I would like to hear what other residents have to
>>>> say about this and I do have questions.
>>>> Will the CEO be required to live in the town?  I think this is very
>>>> important.
>>>>
>>>
>>> This is not in the current draft.  Greenbelt requires this of their City
>>> Manager, but I don't think that either College Park or Hyattsville (both of
>>> which have forms of government closer to the "Council-Manager" form than we
>>> do) require this.  I can check into that and get back to you if you're
>>> interested.
>>>
>>>
>>>> What are the education and experience requirements for the position?
>>>>
>>>
>>> Currently full membership in good standing in the International City and
>>> County Manager's Association, which is a professional accreditation
>>> organization for managers of local governments.  They have stringent
>>> requirements including educational requirements, and are recognized around
>>> the world.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Why do we even need a Mayor if the CEO is in charge?  Why not just have
>>>> a board?
>>>>
>>>
>>> In a lot of ways the Mayor is just a member of the Council under the
>>> proposal, but he or she does have some additional responsibilities, and is
>>> elected to represent the whole Town and not just part of it.  As I said in
>>> my February Town Crier article about this change, in Greenbelt (the closest
>>> to a pure Council-Manager form of government near us) the Mayor is not
>>> directly elected.  The language from the current draft says: "*The
>>> mayor shall be recognized as the head of the town government for all
>>> ceremonial purposes, by the court for serving civil process, and by the
>>> Governor for the purpose of military and emergency law*."
>>>
>>>
>>>> Will the Mayor and Council be the only ones who decide this matter or
>>>> will it go to referendum for a vote by the residents?
>>>>
>>>
>>> Unless the citizens want a referendum, it will be decided by the
>>> Council. § 4-304 of the Local Government Code of Maryland (which governs
>>> amendments to municipal charters) allows referendum only at the request of
>>> the voters - the Council cannot initiate a binding referendum.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Who will the CEO be responsible to?  Can the council hire and fire?  Is
>>>> the CEO elected or appointed by council?
>>>>
>>>
>>> The Town Manager is hired and removed by the Town Council, and is
>>> responsible to them and to the law; the exact language is "serves at the
>>> pleasure of the Council" and means that the Town Manager can be removed for
>>> any reason (or no reason, if the Council decides so).  The current charter
>>> change draft has a specific process for removal of the Town Manager.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Do any of the other local towns do this and how does it work for them?
>>>>
>>>
>>> College Park, Hyattsville, and Greenbelt all have City Managers, though
>>> the split in power between the Council, Mayor, and Town Manager in all
>>> three are different (and that split is still being adjusted in my draft,
>>> even before formally introducing it).  I would say that this system works
>>> well in all of those municipalities.
>>>
>>>
>>>> I think this is a very serious and important matter and I think the
>>>> residents need to be involved and notified when we can review any
>>>> legislation and ask questions and it should be well advertised so people
>>>> are aware and know what's going on.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I agree.  I wrote my long article on it in the February Town Crier,
>>> Mayor Archer wrote about it this month, and we can have up to 60 days after
>>> introduction to discuss it before we have to pass it reject it.
>>>
>>>
>>>> I would really like to hear the opinions and ideas and questions from
>>>> the residents.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Me too!
>>>
>>> Thanks again for writing, and I'd love to continue the discussion.
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>> Alan
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> *Marilyn*
>>
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>>
>>
>

-- 
*Marilyn*
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