1999-10-13 Charter Commission Minutes

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minutes 10-13-99Page 10 of 31 BALOG: Is that Council members? TYLER: Yes, Council members. And that has apparently worked quite well in other counties, so I would certainly be willing to consider that. BALOG: So you realize you’d have to change the amount of years you’d be eligible to serve on the Council because right now it’s limited to eight. So, you going to go two, four, two? Two plus four plus two. TYLER: No, I’m sure you guys can work this out. BALOG: No, I’m just curious. Would you say two-four-four, twelve-year terms? Because what you’re saying is going to effect how you’ve got to consider a City Manager. TYLER: Right, I realize that, and I realize that there are members of this Commission as well as members of the public who feel that the term should be longer. Perhaps no term limits at all. I know that the public has spoken with respect to term limits and I am certainly not coming here today to advocate, as an elected official, that term limits be abolished. Okay? I do not wish to speak against the public, however, I believe that it’s in your purview to review this. The public has spoken on a number of occasions regarding this issue, but this is a matter which you have to consider, and I realize it’s a puzzle, that things are inter-related, but I’m sure you asked the question because it may be that, with a staggered term, that it needs to go to a two-year probational term, if you will, and two four-year terms which that makes ten years. I don’t know. Maybe the public would be willing to go for that. BALOG: The only reason why I’m asking this is I’m just trying to get clear because of, really nothing to do with the terms, what the length of term of the City Manager you view. The Council term is tied to that because you’re proposing the Council hire this person, so I’m just trying to figure out the term that you believe the City Manager should serve. TYLER: I would defer to those counties who already utilize this system because we do not currently utilize this system. You’ve indicated you have quite a few models before you and I’m sure that with all of you here, you can figure out how that might work. I don’t envy you in your job but I know you can make that kind of decision. How’s that for passing the buck? BALOG: Okay. Very good. RAY: Daryl. KUROZAWA: Mr. Tyler, you have spoken to a lot of counties that have this system, and my only question is, from our standpoint, it seems like a very attractive system because they’re accountable to the County Council. How effective is it, in some ways, when the Council is hiring them and can fire them? And have they had problems in the sense that the Director may sort of just do what the Council wants all the time, and not what they feel is proper? TYLER: That’s a very good question. And that’s why I say, the true responsibility, and real work, falls with the Council, and that’s why you need a professional person like this guy from the University of Georgia, the Graduate School, who works with counties to develop the kinds of agreements and understandings that are necessary to facilitate the kinds of work that we all have to do. And I agree with you, if that kind of hard, up front work is not done, then yes, you’re going to have yes men or women, or they’re going to be beholding. But if people agree up front that these are the expectations, that’s why I file://\\coh01\cohweb\council\charter_commission\minutes\minutes 10-13-99.html7/1/2011