COMM. 029 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

. T , I , • • ' Today, most people feel that department heads have them- selves become professional to the extent that they do not: need this kind of guidance in management. They - do not need the technical assistance , of the engineers , they do not need the oversight of the budget mans as tete:: formerly did, be- cause procedures are pretty well establ .shed® So the Charter . Commissioners might ask themselves: Arc'.. these procedures (Technical, professional) well-estLbl i..h d in this county to the extent that we dc, not ,need the professional manager with . the authority of the city manager? . • One problem which arises in relationship to a city manager form of government in most communities :.s the reluctance of the council to give up some of the administrative powers . which it has always exercised. This reluctance is shown in t the charter of the City and County of Honolulu, in the fact that the mayor retains unto himself the management of certain . departments--the council refusing to give to the manager all of the departments to manage. The council is reluctant to stay out of the Manager' s business . . Another problem is the fact that because the council is part-time, the manager tends to become the policy leader . in the community alp_hough this is against the Code of Ethics of city managers . 5:hey carry this •code out by not making a�� ' policy statement before it iz made public by the council itself. °' It is necessary to determine what kind of professional , executive leadershi:) is possible by other than the Managing . Director under the strong °payor-council form of government or • by other than the City Manager under the Mayor-Council form. • There seems to be a consensus among City Managers today that their chief role is one of attention ' to the human and social needs of rhe community, to translate these into programs while at the same tim mainta•:ning the efficiency of the government. ' On a problem such as sowers , -for examplethe City Managers . 1oolr at this in terms of not, how much a sewer system costs but to what' extent can we provide recreation for the people at . the same time by not polluting the beaches . The problems of . housing, of caring for the aged, of an:rs l of various areas . of our city are still l problems that need a professional and a somexahat scientif is ae proach In terms of translating hvman needs of the community to the council so they can set a - policy. The City Manager: form has achieved respect throughout the United States because of the Code of Ethics of city managers but one of the th:Ings that seems to bother many people is the fact that city :Tanagers change their jobs fre- . quently .e They do this because they feel ti at ..if the council . is acting in a lash:_on which' is zxr.punin, their integrity, they can nc longer stay there. They have developed a certain type of respect for the professional career executive who is in government. • City Managers once believed in anonymity-- the City Manager was the man who wor.'{ed behind the scene. However, realize that that today, it is :..ass and 'less possible to uaaintain this anonymity, so it' s a question of how to get a city manager who can work with t1.1.c c.ouncil ..so that. t1'jo co,.'):.cil will be making decisions f r the community ra':l:cf:r than the city manager. g , Thus , the role :is chanE. ,lg-•-it:' s nc.t- doc:r.'^as:T?�-'-•^Iore and Ill ve cities are accepting the c ty-Inanaer type. : x_ Dv peor.1 ) feel that it is ir1: pprocp?.:iatc to call the,.n the city i u ;ers at this' time because Ti.... t of them work i i. '.c:gc uroaa areas It has been proposed that •t-his name be changed to Urban