Title
Matters relative to conduct of city business
Body
SUMMARY:
Councilman Souza will lead the discussion regarding the following statement. The City of Crossville has a less than admirable record of retaining city managers. While some problems can be directed at action of the city manager, the method of business to which the city elected officials interfere is accountable to disunity and directly conflicts with the Charter's intent on the council form of government. At an ever increasing rate, with or without authority, the Mayor has increasingly involved himself with negotiations that have not been in the interest of the city. Bypassing the City Manager, going directly to the vendor without going through department heads, directing the city attorney to draft contracts prematurely with Council approval, tends to reflect the inaccurate image that we have a mayoral form of government. My argument is that the continuation of these practices undermines the trust and confidence of the City Manager to whom we will demand control. Failure to get a handle on the business practices of the city creates an unmanageable environment that will result in an untenable position. The Council has to provide a tenable environment and support for the new manager, if we hope to achieve stability.
BUDGET ACCOUNT:
Recommended Action
NECESSARY COUNCIL ACTION: That effective immediately, ALL city business and negotiations be conducted by the City Manager and that, effective immediately, all city elected officials' authority to conduct city business be rescinded.