[RP TownTalk] Change in Government

[Sarah Wayland]

Hi Bob,

I was having a hard time figuring out exactly what your questions were, so
below I've extracted what I think you are asking, attempted to answer the
ones I can, and highlighted what I think are the outstanding unanswered
questions.

If you have more questions, please just ask them again. Our elected
officials are trying very hard to be responsive, but there have been a LOT
of e-mails on this topic, so it will be helpful if you can simply
re-iterate the questions you want answered so it is easy for them to
provide the information you need.

I am basing my answers on the conversation so far, as well as reading the
proposed changes to the legislation (here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/j5gnajmlos68p0c/Charter%20Amendment%20Resolution%202016-CR-XX%20Town%20Manager%20Form%20of%20Government%20For%20Introduction.pdf?dl=0)
and
Vernon's Mayor's Report (
http://riverdaleparkmd.info/Crier/Mar%202016%20Crier_jeb.pdf).

1) What is the gain for the town in having town manager and what does
the town (or what do the people of the town and the council as elected
reps) lose in having a town manager?

>From Alan: "The reason we have ... department heads... is that they have
more time (because they are not trying to do those jobs at the same time as
their "day" job) and more training, because they are professionals.  As the
demands from ever more complicated regulations (government and otherwise),
personnel rules, etc., mount it becomes harder and harder for an ordinary
town resident who has been elected to serve as mayor to meet those demands
at the same time as holding down a job and meeting family obligations.

"It is definitely possible for the mayor to simply delegate many
responsibilities to the Town Administrator (and other department heads), as
I honestly think has been done at some level for the entire time I have
been watching or participating in town government (more than 20 years).  I
think it's a better idea to explicitly have those roles and
responsibilities spelled out in our Charter so that there is a consistent
policy of who is responsible for what as administrations and councils come
and go. The proposed Charter amendments include these changes."

[Editor's Note: Below, Vernon refers to a CEO of the town in his Town Crier
article. The proposed legislation does not refer to a CEO, but rather to a
town manager. Currently, the "CEO" is the mayor.]

>From Vernon: "Today all of those functions [Chief of Police, Head of Public
Works, Financial Officer] are professionalized and there is throughout the
government significantly more emphasis on professionalization, training and
continuing education. In my opinion progressing to a form of government
where the CEO is a professional manager trained and vetted to the highest
standards is a logical next step in the same direction I have been leading
the government for a decade now. It will benefit the town to have a CEO who
is has a formal education in managing public institutions and who is a
full-time exempted employee reporting and responsible directly to the town
council and thereby all residents. I cannot make any claim to be any such
professional manager and neither were any of my predecessors (going back at
least several decades). Both they and I have done quality work overall,
however, I have to be honest and admit that a trained professional will
likely do a better job of managing the town day in and day out.

"The need for a professional CEO is needed more today than it was a decade
or two ago, and the demands will only increase in the coming years. As the
town grows to include ever more residents and commercial activities the
complexity of providing services will only increase. State and even Federal
regulatory demands have increased significantly in the last several decades
and it seems that trend will increase. Working effectively with other
regional entities like utilities, planning agencies, and the county
government are growing increasingly complex and require full time,
professional attention as well."

I'm not sure what other information you want. Can you clarify exactly why
you don't think these statements answer the question? (I'm really just
confused; I'd be grateful if you could help me understand what you are
asking.)

2) Have any other options been evaluated both qualitatively and and
quantitatively?

The quantitative aspect of this question has not been answered, as far as I
can tell. I believe the answers excerpted above describe the qualitative
impact.

3) What will that cost, in real dollars, fully loaded benefits and so on?

>From Alan's message: "I don't think there will be a significant budget
impact - under the legislation there will be a Town Manager, but no Town
Administrator. I don't think the salary difference between the two should
be more than 10%."

Perhaps our elected officials can provide a real number estimate? (They may
not be able to, as salary information may be confidential.) But perhaps an
estimate of the percentage increase in the budget will suffice?

4) Does this show a longer range plan to move Riverdale Park to City status
rather than a Town?

I see no evidence of this, though I don't know that it matters. In
Maryland, there is no legal difference between the two (see
http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1677).

-Sarah
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