The City Manager

Friends,

    Neighbors will ask occasionally "What exactly does a City Manager do?"

    Think about the functions of the City Manager in this manner.

    You have a car and you want to get from Point A to Point B.  The Mayor and the Aldermen share a vision on the end destination but need someone to check-out the car, determine the best route, how many resources are needed, and drive it to the declared destination.

    The City Manager is the one who:

    (1)  Checks out the tires, fills the gasoline tank, makes sure all the equipment is working properly,  etc.

    (2)  Gets the map and researches the best way to go that is safe, sound, and economically feasible.  The City Manager will also determine what other resources are needed:  personnel, directives, laws, etc.

    (3)  Briefs the Mayor and the Aldermen on the research, assures them that the trip can be made with the least amount of difficulty, that no laws are broken and that it is financially feasible and within the budget.

    (4)  The City Manager, with the approval of the Mayor and Aldermen, starts the car and begins the trip.  The Mayor and Aldermen travel with the City Manager to help with problems should they arise -- flat tire, detour, construction, traffic, new laws, speed limits, etc.

    (5)  While driving, they are also planning the next trip (project) and above steps 1-4.

Simplistic?

Yes, but that is how it works.  The Mayor and Aldermen develop/have a vision; the Aldermen reviews policy, funds, laws, etc to see if it is feasible; and the City Manager works with the Mayor and the Alderman to make the vision/project happen with the least amount of difficulty and within budget.

There is constant and immediate communication between the City Manager, the Aldermen, and the Mayor who are also in constant communication with the people explaining all the details about the trip to include pictures and written correspondence.

Here is a real, concrete example:

Roads.  The Mayor and Aldermen develop a plan to work on roads.  The City Manager researches, develops a time table, determines the approximate cost, the unintended consequences, what roads need immediate attention, laws, the bidding procedure and many small but important details.  At the same time, the City Manager is looking for possible grants to help pay for the repairs.

     When all the information is gathered, the City Manager reports to the Aldermen and Mayor for approval.  Once approval is granted and the destination of repairing a certain strip of road is reached, the City Manager oversees every part of the project until it is completed.  At the same time other projects are being planned, researched, and started.

     All of this is why an experienced, energetic, smart City Manager with great people skills is critical.  That person runs the day-by-day business of the Village, town, city with the oversight of the Aldermen and Mayor.

    Do villages the size of Salado have a City Manager?

    Bartlett hired a City Manager last year and is making a great difference.   Other small communities are doing the same and experiencing new life and vitalization.

    VR/Skip