the municipal secretary desktop reference manual - Southwestern ...

FACTOR: PROVIDING FOR COMPETENT MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT
1. The local governing body by resolution, ordinance, or home rule charter provision,
delegates general administrative/ management responsibilities to a professional
manager, secretary or administrator. Depending on the specific position, his/her
responsibilities should include budget preparation and general financial administration;
management of municipal departments and their operations; purchasing; and personnel
management inclusive of hiring and firing of employees with or without the consent of
the governing body.
Commentary
Almost all local elected officials are part-time and generally lack the time and expertise necessary to
handle the responsibilities associated with the management of a municipality on a daily basis. The
job of council members, commissioners and supervisors is one of management oversight,
legislating/policy determination, and goal-setting. Those officials seeking effective and efficient
government administration will understand that the public interest is best served by employing a
qualified manager, secretary or administrator to direct the day-to-day operations of government.
2. The individual hired as manager, secretary or administrator has been educated or
trained in the field of municipal management/administration or a related field or is
qualified on the basis of equivalent experience. Such qualifications are established as
part of the authorizing resolution, ordinance or home rule charter.
Commentary
Sound managerial capacity is needed by even the smallest governments to address complex and
changing problems. Regardless of the title, the manager, secretary or administrator should possess
the appropriate knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively and efficiently handle the
responsibilities he/she has been given regarding financial and personnel management and oversight
of line department operations.
3. When a municipality lacks the financial resources to employ a full-time, professionally
trained manager or administrator, the governing body has taken one of the following
steps to provide for competent municipal management:
(1) Requires the municipal secretary to complete, within a reasonable time limit, the inservice
training required to attain the Certification Standards for Municipal Secretaries
established by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and/or Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development. (The governing
body provides financial support for this required in-service training.)
(2) Employs a part-time, professionally trained municipal manager or administrator.
(3) Arranges, through contract, to share the services of a professional manager or
administrator with another municipality.
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