Best Practices for Successful Governance
Adopted June 1997 Revised and Reaffirmed March 2007
- We work as a team, communicate with each other respectfully in an open, appropriate forum, have a good flow of information back and forth, make decisions based on identified common goal(s), and make every effort to understand the different roles of each group.
- We agree that the City Manager is the administrator for all operational activities, Department Heads and personnel, and that this is not an appropriate role for Councilors.
- We agree that Councilors pass citizen or personal complaints through the Manager rather than taking them directly to Department Heads.
- We agree that Department Heads take to the Manager any complaints or issues which may generate publicity or legal problems; other simpler matters they will deal with directly.
- We agree that in situations where any citizen could get an answer to a question from a Department Head, it is OK for a Councilor to ask it directly to a Department Head; otherwise questions go to the Manager; Department Heads will respond only as they would to a private citizen.
- We agree to work as a team on the implementation of long term plans/issues.