Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the council-manager form, which is used in so many local governments? Q. Is it a responsive form of government? Q. What is the Mayor and Council's function? Q. What is the city manager's function? Q. Does the city manager participate in policy determination? Q. What is the council-manager form, which is used in so many local governments? A. The council-manager form is the system of local government that combines the strong political leadership of elected officials in the form of a council or other governing body, with the strong managerial experience of an appointed local government manager. The form establishes a representative system where all power is concentrated in the elected council and where the council hires a professionally trained manager to oversee the delivery of public services. In Flowery Branch, a six-member Mayor and Council are elected by post and on a staggered term. back to top Q. Is it a responsive form of government? A. In council-manager government, council members are the leaders and policy makers elected to represent various segments of the community and to concentrate on policy issues that are responsive to citizens' needs and wishes. The manager is appointed by the Mayor and Council to carry out policy and ensure that the entire community is being served. The manager oversees the entire staff to ensure that the city is run as efficiently and smoothly as possible. back to top Q. What is the Mayor and Council's function? A. The Mayor and Council is the legislative body; its members are the community's decision makers. Power is centralized in the elected Mayor and Council, which approves the budget and determines the tax rate, for example. The Mayor and Council also focuses on the community's goals, major projects, and such long-term considerations as community growth, land use development, capital improvement plans, capital financing, and strategic planning. The Mayor and Council hire a professional manager to carry out the administrative responsibilities, ensure compliance with all laws, run the day-to-day operations of the city, and much more. The Mayor and Council supervise the manager's performance. back to top Q. What is the city manager's function? A. The city manager is hired to serve the Mayor and Council and the community and to bring to the local government the benefits of training and experience in administering local government projects and programs on behalf of the governing body. The manager prepares a budget for the Mayor and Council's consideration; recruits, hires, and supervises the government's staff; serves as the Mayor and Council's chief adviser; and carries out the Mayor and Council's policies. The Mayor and Council and citizens count on the manager to provide complete and objective information, pros and cons of alternatives, and long-term consequences. back to top Q. Does the city manager participate in policy determination? A. The city manager makes policy recommendations to the Mayor and Council, but the Mayor and Council may or may not adopt them and may modify the recommendations. The city manager is bound by whatever action the Mayor and Council takes. back to top