What Staff Needs to Know about Elected Officials 1 Elected officials have different needs than staff. To be effective, elected officials must be responsive to the needs of their constituents. Concerns for "fairness" and "minority views" may outweigh issues of effectiveness or efficiency. 2 Elected officials want to know where various groups stand on an issue. This information is important in attempting to balance the conflicting values that often come into play during the policymaking process. 3 Elected officials do not like surprises. This is particularly true at the end of a long and arduous process. A staffmember's credibility can be seriously undermined if key interests introduce relevant, new information at a final public hearing before action is to be taken. Councilmembers depend on staff to provide pertinent, timely, and complete information on issues the council must take under consideration. 4 Elected officials like to have choices. No one likes to feel backed into a corner with only one solution. Even a brilliant staff proposal may not carry the day if other choices were not seriously considered. 5 Staff can be an enormous help. Staff can set an example by showing how compromise can be reached on thorny issues. They can also make everyone on the policy/administrative team look good by sharing credit.
Each party has a role to play, along with clearly defined responsibilities. Conflicts often develop when the legitimate needs and roles of one party are not understood by another. Here are some suggestions that might make the policy development process more effective. Elected officials have different needs than staff.
Legislative Bodies. City, town, and county councilmembers and county commissioners are legislators. Together they constitute a legislative body that is given authority by the state constitution and state law to make local law. Local legislative authority is generally limited to what the state specifically grants to counties, cities and towns.
Administrative authority is vested in a directly elected mayor (sometimes called a "strong mayor") or county executive. Mayors in second class mayor-council cities and code mayor-council cities may veto ordinances but the mayor's veto can be overruled by two-thirds vote of the council.
The mayor votes as a councilmember and does not have any veto power. Political skills possessed by the mayor can be helpful in bringing parties together in the policy development process. Currently, the only county that has adopted this organizational model is Clark County, which is in the process of transition.
Commissioners serve both legislative and executive role s. The relationship of the executive to the legislative body varies by form of local government: mayor-council, council-mayor, or commission. Mayor-Council Form of Government: Policy and administration are separate. All legislative and policymaking powers are vested in the city council.
Commission Form of Government: In the commission form of government, one elective body includes the executive, legislative, and administrative functions of government. No cities in Washington operate under a commission form of government any more, but 32 of the 39 counties in Washington use a commission form of government.
Public hearings offer citizens an opportunity to be heard —which is a a strength of a representative democracy. Even if not required by law, a public hearing can be useful in helping village officials understand how their constituents feel and why they feel that way.
“AN ACT to provide for the government of certain villages, to define their powers and duties....” The General Law Village Act, PA 3 of 1895, serves as the charter for 208 Michigan villages. This Act not only defines the powers of general law villages, but also the roles and responsibilities of the elected and appointed officials of those villages.
Of Michigan’s 208 general law villages, 56 have a village manager. In determining whether or not to establish the position of a village manager, each village must decide what will best meet the needs of the community.
General law villages can amend the provisions of the GLV Act (MCL 74.24) following the procedures outlined in the Home Rule Village Act, PA 278 of 1909, as amended (MCL 78.1-
“The legislative authority of villages shall be vested in the council.” (MCL 65.1). Villages operate as governments of law within a system of constitutional federalism and a complex network of federal and state laws and regulations. At the top are the guarantees and restraints found in the U.S. Constitution and federal legislation and regulations. Next are the Michigan Constitution, statutes, and regulations. Based on a professional understanding of the law and the interrelationships of various levels of the law, your village attorney will be able to assist you in determining which laws are applicable and how they apply to your village and to your role as trustee.
Townships may hold an annual town meeting where citizens may participate and vote. This is not an option for villages. Only the president and the trustees may introduce an agenda item and vote on matters brought for action.
The GLV Act also establishes the duties and responsibilities of the village president. Some administrative duties of the president may be transferred to a village manager. (These duties are noted in bold face.)