The Monroe City Council apparently will continue its talk about the structure of city government when it meets at 7:30 p.m. today at City Hall. On the meeting agenda is a "discussion regarding possible future management structures for (the) city, including, but not limited to, discussion regarding administrators and city managers, and also possibility of changing length of terms for mayor and alderpersons."
While it is a little late in doing so, the council seems to have realized - again - that Monroe should have a full-time leader running city government's daily operations. Alderman Mark Coplien on Jan. 6 urged the city to find a way to hire a city manager or fill its vacant administrator position. A handful of aldermen soon voiced support for Coplien's call.
A previous council already made the decision for full-time leadership when it created the city administrator position. But the job has been vacant since last May. Late last year, the council decided not to allocate money from its tight budget to hire a new administrator. The part-time mayor has been managing operations since, unofficially and quasi-officially.
Marsh wants the council to make the mayor the full-time city leader with a four-year term. He said as much in a letter to aldermen, writing "the combination of a human resource person and a full-time mayor would provide this city with a far greater opportunity for growth. The day-to-day operations of the City would be much more fluid, flexible and cohesive."
Yes, the city needs full-time, professional leadership to run government most efficiently and effectively. That will not come consistently from a mayor, who is elected more for political and personal skills than for professional qualifications. If Monroe is going to have a mayor at all - and one could argue that the position is unnecessary with an elected council and a professional city manager or administrator - it should remain a part-time job with a two-year term. Alderman should make that determination clear, as early as tonight.
Then they can begin to sort through the significant differences between having an administrator and a manager, and decide which structure is the best fit for Monroe.
Also on the table is Coplien's suggestion to consider extending council terms from two years to three years. This, too, should be rejected, as early as tonight. There is no need for the change, particularly at a time when the city's leadership structure is in flux.
One thing longer terms would do, for sure, is make council terms even less desirable to potential new candidates. In April's election, four of five incumbents will be re-elected without a challenge. Only Jan Lefevre in the Fourth Ward has a ballot opponent. Newcomers will be less likely to apply for a three-year commitment, making contested elections more infrequent than they already are.
While it is a little late in doing so, the council seems to have realized - again - that Monroe should have a full-time leader running city government's daily operations. Alderman Mark Coplien on Jan. 6 urged the city to find a way to hire a city manager or fill its vacant administrator position. A handful of aldermen soon voiced support for Coplien's call.
A previous council already made the decision for full-time leadership when it created the city administrator position. But the job has been vacant since last May. Late last year, the council decided not to allocate money from its tight budget to hire a new administrator. The part-time mayor has been managing operations since, unofficially and quasi-officially.
Marsh wants the council to make the mayor the full-time city leader with a four-year term. He said as much in a letter to aldermen, writing "the combination of a human resource person and a full-time mayor would provide this city with a far greater opportunity for growth. The day-to-day operations of the City would be much more fluid, flexible and cohesive."
Yes, the city needs full-time, professional leadership to run government most efficiently and effectively. That will not come consistently from a mayor, who is elected more for political and personal skills than for professional qualifications. If Monroe is going to have a mayor at all - and one could argue that the position is unnecessary with an elected council and a professional city manager or administrator - it should remain a part-time job with a two-year term. Alderman should make that determination clear, as early as tonight.
Then they can begin to sort through the significant differences between having an administrator and a manager, and decide which structure is the best fit for Monroe.
Also on the table is Coplien's suggestion to consider extending council terms from two years to three years. This, too, should be rejected, as early as tonight. There is no need for the change, particularly at a time when the city's leadership structure is in flux.
One thing longer terms would do, for sure, is make council terms even less desirable to potential new candidates. In April's election, four of five incumbents will be re-elected without a challenge. Only Jan Lefevre in the Fourth Ward has a ballot opponent. Newcomers will be less likely to apply for a three-year commitment, making contested elections more infrequent than they already are.
