Friday, October 28, 2011

Council-manager government hasn’t worked


McCall is one Idaho city with an elected council hiring a city manager. A group of McCall residents placed "form of government" on the last ballot hoping the electorate would change to a "strong mayor" plus council. Many residents misunderstood the ballot and the council-manager McCall government continues. But it is not working well. Why?

First, the city manager does not answer to the public. He is not elected by the residents and does not have to disclose his priorities for the city. In McCall, the city manager isn't required to live in town, and is not subject to living with decisions he makes or influences.

Second, there is lack of a performance plan and transparency around how the city of McCall is performing. The council has become highly dependent on the city manager's information and input on decisions (including policy decisions), and department heads are not really free to speak their minds on priorities without fear of reprisal from the city manager.

The elected council-elected mayor form of government gives residents the most control over planning priorities and results and transparency on positions, actions and results. If residents do not approve of the direction of the city, they replace both the mayor and council members through the election process.

Several of the Ketchum candidates hit the nail on the head. More important than the form of government is the process of establishing priorities, particularly for long-term economic vitality. Why do people come to the valley, why will new groups come and what are you doing to ensure that the "product" delights the groups to whom you market—not to mention pleasing the people that live here?

I urge voters to keep the current form of government but elect strong individuals in all positions who understand how to plan, execute and measure true economic vitality and livability for the area.

Jill Boyle

Ketchum and McCall, Idaho




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