Butte‑Silver Bow chief executive outlines duties, Superfund challenges and governance changes he recommends

Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher told the Butte‑Silver Bow Study Commission on the evening’s first substantive agenda item that the elected chief executive combines the responsibilities of a mayor, a city manager and a county administrator and described day‑to‑day duties, budget and staffing issues, and several governance changes he said could improve efficiency.

Gallagher said the job includes preparing the city‑county budget, supervising department directors, representing the consolidated government on regional boards and negotiating labor contracts. “The chief executive is like a mayor, a city manager, and a county administrator all rolled into one,” Gallagher said.

He told commissioners the county’s largest immediate public challenge is Superfund cleanup and public communication about it. “One of the biggest challenges is to show the community that progress is happening within our Superfund work,” Gallagher said, adding that Butte‑Silver Bow must hold outside agencies accountable for timely public explanations and progress…