HomeMy WebLinkAboutMeasure 15-76: Council/Manager Form of Government
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NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION
CITY OF ASHLAND
JACKSON COUNTY, OREGON
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, May 15, 2007, a measure election will be
held by the City of Ashland, Jackson County, Oregon, and that such election shall be
conducted by mail pursuant to Oregon law.
The following shall be the ballot title of the measure to be submitted to the city's voters
on this date:
Caption: Changes form of government to a Council/Manager form.
Question: Should the Ashland Charter be amended to change from Mayor/Council
form of government to Council/Manager form of government?
Statement: This proposal changes the form of government. The current structure of
government in Ashland provides the Mayor is the chief executive officer of the City. The
Mayor's powers include appointment, supervision and removal of City department
heads and presentation of the annual proposed budget. The Mayor is supported in that
role by a City Administrator. If this amendment is approved, the City Administrator
position would become the City Manager position. The Mayor would continue to serve
as the political head of the City. The City Council would continue to serve as policy
makers. The City Manager would be charged with carrying out the policies established
by the City Council, and would have the responsibility and authority to ~ire, supervise
and remove City department heads. The Manager would also be charged with
preparation and presentation of the proposed annual budget. Language is included
amending either the existing charter or the proposed revised charter
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The fo owing authorized city official hereby certifies the above ballot title is true and
com te, which includes completion of the ballot title challenge process.
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Signature of authorized city official Date signed
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Printed name of authorized city official
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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT FOR COUNTY VOTERS' PAMPHLET
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NAME OF PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTENT: Mij(~ rrMell, Ashland City Attorney
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NAME OF ORGANIZATION PERSON REPRESENTS, IF ANY: City of Ashland
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BALLOT TITLE CAPTION: Changes form of government to a Council/Manager form?
MEASURE NUMBER:
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This measure changes the current form of government from mayor/council to council/manager. Passage of this measure
retains the Mayor as the political leader of the City. The authority to appoint. supervise and remove city department heads
would transfer from the Mayor, with the consent of the City CounciL to the City Manager.
In the current city charter the Mayor is the chief executive officer as well as the political head of the city. The City
Administrator provides administrative support to the Mayor.
In the existing city charter, "the Mayor with confirmation of the council shall appoint a City Administrator, City Attorney and
such other officers as the Council deems necessary." This measure removes that language and would read "A majority of the
council must appoint and may remove the manager. The appointment must be made without regard to political
considerations and solely based on education and experience with local government management." The City Attorney will
continue to be appointed by the Mayor with consent of the council. The City Manager will appoint. supervise and remove all
other city employees.
Under the current form of government the City Administrator acts as the head of the organization but has no authority over
the hiring and firing of employees, specifically senior department heads. A change in the form of government provides for a
professional manager to oversee the administration of the city and to implement the policies established by the council. The
form of government draws clearer lines between the policy makers and the administration and gives full administrative
authority to the City Manager.
After months of review of these issues, the Charter Review Committee voted unanimously to recommend this change in the
current Ashland form of government from a mayor/council to council/manager. They recommend this because the City
Manager form provides city with opportunity to appoint a manager trained in public administration, corrects the present
limitations of the city administrator, including the inability to hire and dismiss principal officers and department heads for
which he/she is responsible, allows the Mayor to better serve as the political leader, and provides for the city manager to be
accountable to the entire city council for the satisfactory implementation of council policy and day-to-day administration of
municipal affairs.
The committee felt the Council/Manager form also ensures that council members can be devoted to legislative matters,
developing policy, establishing a long range vision and setting the tone for the community.
The City Council decided such a substantive change should be decided by the voters as a as a ballot measure separate from
the city charter ballot.
The Charter Review Committee final report is available at City Hall and at www.ashland.or.us
WORD COUNT TOTAL: 443
THE TOTAL WORD COUNT CANNOT EXCEED 500 WORDS.
3/15/07
DATE