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minutes 03-25-00Page 18 of 34
<br />Whereas, it could be an honorary Mayor should devote his or her time to ceremonies, dignitaries, the promotion of the city
<br />and county, enticing new businesses and industries into the area. Neither the Mayor or the County Council should interfere
<br />with the County Manager’s duties or powers, directly or indirectly, or any of his subordinates. As the Council members serve
<br />the pleasure of the citizens, so the County Manager serves the County as long as the County Council considers the job well
<br />done. The manager can be replaced at anytime by a majority vote of the County Council. The County Council hires the
<br />County Manager based on his or her qualifications and expertise in management, economics and finances. Many are lured
<br />from other cities which have been managed effectively.
<br />When a County Manager is hired, he or she would undoubtedly streamline the departments to work more efficiently by merit
<br />and qualification. The County Manager would hire and be assisted by the following who would report directly to him. These
<br />individuals could possibly come up the ranks and could be promoted by the County Manager providing they are qualified.
<br />Rather than create a new position, it could be as simple as the changing of a title and responsibility. This would basically
<br />eliminate some of what you’ve proposed in items 4, 16, 17, and 19, as your amendments for Commissions.
<br />The Assistant County Manager would oversee the County Clerk’s Office, Municipal archives, Elections, Internal Audit and
<br />Employee Representatives. The County Services Deputy County would oversee Police, Fire, Library, TV, and you would go
<br />on with the Administrative overseeing Finance, Information Technology, Internal Services and Budget. And Operations
<br />Deputy County would oversee Parks and Recreation, Planning, Public Works, Utility Departments and our tourism.
<br />With a budget in excess of 175 million, any business would consider the CEO of a conglomerate to have had, not only
<br />experience but, the vital expertise in the various aspects of managing a business as superior skills in management, economics
<br />and finances. We do not expect any less of our government which is handling our money and running our county. Please
<br />consider a County Management form of government instead of a strong Mayor government. The latter not requiring the
<br />qualifications to manage. We are only allowed to amend our Charter every 10 years. If we don’t get it right this time, we will
<br />have to wait another 10 years to the detriment of ourselves and our children.
<br />There is an organization which I believe you are all familiar with, the International City/County Managers Association
<br />located in Washington, D.C. They have 8,000 members, of which 3,558 are managers who are very successful at managing
<br />their cities. The qualifications of the City/County Managers are very defined in the field of finances, economics and
<br />management. They could be of great assistance to our County and, if need be, a source of a qualified County Manager,
<br />provide we are unable to obtain one locally. Unfortunately, the proposed changes to the Charter regarding the Managing
<br />Director and the Mayor are, at this point, of no value. The changes keep the same chain of command . Just the language has
<br />been changed. The Managing Director is still at the whim of the Mayor. We must keep politics out of County management.
<br />Thank you.
<br />RAY: Just one correction. You don’t have to wait ten years. As I pointed out, there are two other ways to amend the Charter
<br />and, in fact, we’re close to running out of time this year, but I think there’s still time if you could get your County Council
<br />person to introduce such an amendment. The County Council, by ordinance, could have any additional amendment for any of
<br />these ideas on the ballot this Fall, separate from whatever this Commission comes up to. So, it’s not strictly up to this
<br />Commission to propose amendments.
<br />BARRY: But we have to do it by this Fall. After that, we can do it when?
<br />RAY: You can do it anytime. It’s just based on an election cycle in terms of it being voted on. In other words, a Council
<br />person can independently introduce an ordinance for a Charter Amendment, and if that passes, that will appear on the next
<br />election, which would be exactly the same time anything this Commission comes up with, and that can be done anytime by
<br />the County Council.
<br />BARRY: I will get you more statistics.
<br />RAY: I mean, if you give up on us -
<br />BARRY: I’m not. That’s why I’m here.
<br />RAY: You could also get your Council person to be an advocate for that, and routinely the Council does entertain and bring
<br />up Charter Amendments, so it’s not just every 10 years that you can change the Charter.
<br />BARRY: Okay, thank you.
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