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Commission debates mayoral supervision of city administrator, legal counsel warns of hiring risks
Summary
The Charter Review Commission exchanged proposals and cautions about giving the mayor direct supervisory power over the city administrator, with city legal counsel and outside advisers warning such a model could deter qualified administrators and recommending some duties be addressed in ordinances or contracts instead of the charter.
Charter Review Commission members and city legal counsel debated whether the charter should make the city administrator report to the mayor, permit mayoral supervision of department heads, or leave management authority with the council and a professional administrator.
Pat O'Connell, the city’s legal adviser, told commissioners he advises caution about vesting broad supervisory power in an elected mayor. O'Connell described the prevalent model in Iowa as a council hiring and supervising a professional administrator. He said that making the mayor the primary supervisor could "deter highly qualified…
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