If the City of Monroe does not have an administrator in 2009, it will not have one again for a very long time, if ever.
That's how we began an "Our View" piece published on Oct. 9, 2008.
It appears today that it could indeed be a very long time, if ever, before city government makes a legitimate attempt at having professional management. That's unfortunate, and will not serve the city well in the long term.
The city essentially abandoned its lackluster pursuit of filling the vacant administrator position Monday when the Monroe City Council postponed it indefinitely. Aldermen didn't need much convincing, and didn't even take a formal vote.
All it took to persuade them to end the administrator discussion was a statement read by Fire Chief Daryl Rausch on behalf of city department heads.
"Although we see the benefits of an administrator, we don't feel the city should move forward (to hire one), because of the costs involved," Rausch said. The department heads also essentially said that everything's working fine the way it is, with aldermen being "hands-on" and more involved in day-to-day operations. No mention was made of Mayor Ron Marsh's supervisory role at City Hall. No questions were asked of the department heads by aldermen.
"It pretty well stops here," Alderman Mark Coplien said of the administrator discussion. "It was great hearing the department heads say that."
The department heads' opinions are important and valuable. They are the ones on the front line of daily operations at City Hall. But it's also important to note that an administrator would be their immediate supervisor. And that coming up with the money in the budget to pay for an administrator likely would impact the amount of money each of the departments has to work with. (Though if the city can entertain spending $40,000 simply to study the outrageous idea of creating a transportation utility, then maybe that commitment wouldn't be as financially painful as we've been led to believe.)
It may be easier for everyone to allow City Hall to continue to operate without an administrator. Doing so means less supervision, fewer power struggles and not as many hassles. But easier does not necessarily mean better.
It is important to remember why the council originally decided to hire an administrator. The council felt then, in late 2005, that city government should be run by a full-time, professional manager - someone with expertise and experience in city government operations and economic development. The belief was that such a person could bring efficiencies to city government, and lead the effort to grow the community.
We wrote that, too, on Oct. 9, 2008. And it still makes sense today. A good administrator, given the proper structure, support and responsibilities, will more than pay for the position in government efficiencies and resulting community growth.
Obviously, our city leaders don't agree. They'd prefer for things to run the way they always have.
That's how we began an "Our View" piece published on Oct. 9, 2008.
It appears today that it could indeed be a very long time, if ever, before city government makes a legitimate attempt at having professional management. That's unfortunate, and will not serve the city well in the long term.
The city essentially abandoned its lackluster pursuit of filling the vacant administrator position Monday when the Monroe City Council postponed it indefinitely. Aldermen didn't need much convincing, and didn't even take a formal vote.
All it took to persuade them to end the administrator discussion was a statement read by Fire Chief Daryl Rausch on behalf of city department heads.
"Although we see the benefits of an administrator, we don't feel the city should move forward (to hire one), because of the costs involved," Rausch said. The department heads also essentially said that everything's working fine the way it is, with aldermen being "hands-on" and more involved in day-to-day operations. No mention was made of Mayor Ron Marsh's supervisory role at City Hall. No questions were asked of the department heads by aldermen.
"It pretty well stops here," Alderman Mark Coplien said of the administrator discussion. "It was great hearing the department heads say that."
The department heads' opinions are important and valuable. They are the ones on the front line of daily operations at City Hall. But it's also important to note that an administrator would be their immediate supervisor. And that coming up with the money in the budget to pay for an administrator likely would impact the amount of money each of the departments has to work with. (Though if the city can entertain spending $40,000 simply to study the outrageous idea of creating a transportation utility, then maybe that commitment wouldn't be as financially painful as we've been led to believe.)
It may be easier for everyone to allow City Hall to continue to operate without an administrator. Doing so means less supervision, fewer power struggles and not as many hassles. But easier does not necessarily mean better.
It is important to remember why the council originally decided to hire an administrator. The council felt then, in late 2005, that city government should be run by a full-time, professional manager - someone with expertise and experience in city government operations and economic development. The belief was that such a person could bring efficiencies to city government, and lead the effort to grow the community.
We wrote that, too, on Oct. 9, 2008. And it still makes sense today. A good administrator, given the proper structure, support and responsibilities, will more than pay for the position in government efficiencies and resulting community growth.
Obviously, our city leaders don't agree. They'd prefer for things to run the way they always have.
