Englewood’s City Manager
December 11, 2007 |
History
Recent publicity about the office of Police Chief in
Englewood has brought new focus to the important role
which is played by our unelected City Manager. That
role is established in our City Charter. The job is
currently held by an interim Manager while the
Council conducts a job search for a permanent
appointee.
One of the more significant events in Englewood’s political history was the approval by the voters in 1979 of a revised City Charter, which, as the U. S. Constitution does for the government in Washington, establishes the structure of our local government. The new City Charter was the product of many months of work by a Charter Commission which had been elected in 1977. The Commission consisted of three Democrats and two Republicans, which coincidentally reflected the approximate population balance between the two parties at that time. Prior to its presentation to the voters, the new Charter also had to receive certification from Trenton that it conformed with State legislation applying to local government. A prime mover in the campaign for a new charter at the time was then City Council President Eamon Kelly, who was also elected to the Commission. A previous attempt to institute a new charter, led by then Mayor Ned Feldman, had been voted down in 1970.
In a letter to the public explaining the reasons for a charter change, the Commission wrote:
The city manager form of government is not unique to Englewood. It is specifically offered under New Jersey law as an option for local communities. It is a common recommendation of good government advocates throughout the country, as a means of improving professionalism in government and reducing unduly political personnel policies. The League of Women Voters, for example, was a strong advocate of the Charter change. The rationale is that, like a business organization, municipal government has a personnel structure, income and expenses, and similarly requires good management to be successful. Opposition to the concept tends to come from persons or groups seeking to use political power for their own advantage.
The effectiveness of the manager form of government depends obviously on the competence of the manager, and also on the ability of the manager to work with and reflect the priorities of the elected mayor and council with which he or she must work. If those priorities change as a result of electoral changes, the manager must adapt or be replaced. If the elected officials are seriously divided on important issues, the manager’s job may be more difficult. On balance, since 1980, the manager form has worked well for Englewood.
One of the more significant events in Englewood’s political history was the approval by the voters in 1979 of a revised City Charter, which, as the U. S. Constitution does for the government in Washington, establishes the structure of our local government. The new City Charter was the product of many months of work by a Charter Commission which had been elected in 1977. The Commission consisted of three Democrats and two Republicans, which coincidentally reflected the approximate population balance between the two parties at that time. Prior to its presentation to the voters, the new Charter also had to receive certification from Trenton that it conformed with State legislation applying to local government. A prime mover in the campaign for a new charter at the time was then City Council President Eamon Kelly, who was also elected to the Commission. A previous attempt to institute a new charter, led by then Mayor Ned Feldman, had been voted down in 1970.
In a letter to the public explaining the reasons for a charter change, the Commission wrote:
Under the present Charter, the Council serves both executive and legislative functions....it is the Council which must decide upon each and every aspect of the municipal life of the City. The Council can become immersed in endless detail and not have the proper time to devote to...major legislation and long range policy...
The Commission recommends that Englewood have a professional Manager, to be appointed by the Council and to serve at its pleasure.
The Manager is the chief executive and administrative officer of the City; all administration is centralized through his or her office.
The Manager will appoint and remove department heads with advice and consent of the Council; he or she will appoint to all subordinate positions.
The city manager form of government is not unique to Englewood. It is specifically offered under New Jersey law as an option for local communities. It is a common recommendation of good government advocates throughout the country, as a means of improving professionalism in government and reducing unduly political personnel policies. The League of Women Voters, for example, was a strong advocate of the Charter change. The rationale is that, like a business organization, municipal government has a personnel structure, income and expenses, and similarly requires good management to be successful. Opposition to the concept tends to come from persons or groups seeking to use political power for their own advantage.
The effectiveness of the manager form of government depends obviously on the competence of the manager, and also on the ability of the manager to work with and reflect the priorities of the elected mayor and council with which he or she must work. If those priorities change as a result of electoral changes, the manager must adapt or be replaced. If the elected officials are seriously divided on important issues, the manager’s job may be more difficult. On balance, since 1980, the manager form has worked well for Englewood.
