[RP TownTalk] Change in Government

[bob smith]

Councilman,
Thank you. You have hit on a number of my concerns very concisely.
You understand my questions about the larger picture. Excellent.

I am hoping the rest of my questions in the last exchanges will be
answered and the background thinking explained in the manner that you
have taken the time to accomplish.

I don't know the thinking of the entire council on the need for a CEO
and the budget impact immediately and over time. I am hoping they will
share that information with the town in detail.

Again, thank you for responding with what you are aware of and clearly
stating that you have a mixed opinion - I think with more detail maybe I
can get to one side or the other of the issue.

Respectfully
bob smith
ward 3



On 3/8/16 5:52 PM, Jonathan Ebbeler wrote:
> Bob –
> 
>  
> 
> I have a much longer response planned but will likely break it out in
> more readable sections.
> 
>  
> 
> I have a mixed opinion about the change in government.  In general
> terms, this is the preferred model that most town administrators want –
> i.e. to move to a Council-Manager form of government.  The
> ‘professional’ gets to make staffing calls, budget preparation etc.  Ask
> anyone who has been to our budget hearings – very little is actually
> changed between the draft budget and the final budget.  The fights are
> usually around staff additions since they have tremendous impacts to our
> current and more importantly future budgets (we have a very rich pension
> benefit but very unfunded pension liability). 
> 
>  
> 
> In theory a town manager would be above the fray to administer the
> direction of the town and the Council’s primary role would be to
> administer policy.  A major critique of this form of government is that
> the manager is expected to understand intrinsically the needs, wants of
> a community they most likely will not live in.  Managers have no direct
> accountability to the voters and more importantly it is often difficult
> to obtain policy leadership with a Council-manager form of government.
> 
>  
> 
> What is lost significantly is the lack of any real employee-employer
> relationship which is my mind is a significant check and balance of
> power.  Currently the town administrator reports to the mayor and has
> direct accountability from an operational level to that position.  If
> you or anyone in town has an issue with say trash collection you can
> call your Councilmember and/or the Mayor and there is a direct
> accountability and a constituent service provided.    
> 
>  
> 
> When contemplating this form of government you have to ask yourself if
> it would also make sense to go to an at-large Council rather than wards
> if we are going to remove the system of checks and balances.  More to
> the point perhaps a mayor shouldn’t be elected as a seat but determined
> by the most number of votes.  If we are going to discuss a decrease in
> responsibility than of course it is only fair to taxpayers to decrease
> Council/Mayor salaries commensurately as well. 
> 
>  
> 
> It also moves a mayor into a position where they get to vote and debate
> vs. what is required by Roberts Rules of Order currently (an impartial
> chair).  So imagine a situation (hypothetically of course) where there
> was significant policy disagreement between the Mayor and another
> Councilmember.  Currently the Mayor is required by our rules to stay out
> of the discussion and only votes in a tie.  Going forward it isn’t hard
> to imagine some strong personalities running for seats on Council that
> may have a difference of opinion that will unlikely lead to a harmonious
> experience for the rest of the Council.  It is difficult enough to find
> a policy direction with 6 people.  Sometimes more isn’t necessarily better
> 
>  
> 
> A fundamental question I have is what is so broken that the Council now
> feels this is the only path forward? I have seen justifications of that
> we are growing as a town etc.  Understood and agree but that doesn’t
> define the need in any quantitative form or fashion.  A system of
> governance does not in of itself solve problems nor does trying to hire
> your way out of.  I would like to understand what problem it is exactly
> we are trying to solve.
> 
>  
> 
> Jonathan
> 
>  
> 
> Jonathan W. Ebbeler
> 
> Councilman, Ward 1
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
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