New Richmond council approves charter ordinance shifting operational authority to city administrator while keeping elected mayor

New Richmond City Council on Sept. 8 approved Charter Ordinance 628, a proposal to change the city's form of government so that a professionally appointed city administrator would handle the city's daily operations while the mayor remains an elected, at-large official and votes on all matters.

City Administrator Noah outlined the proposal in a public hearing, saying, "this is our, fourth time, discussing the possible change in form of government." He told the council the draft ordinance would remove statutory mayoral authority over police and fire so those departments "would no longer, be under the statutory authority of the mayor. They would be, just like any other department in the city." Noah added that the police and fire commission would retain authority over hiring, promotions and discipline for those departments.

The draft ordinance keeps the mayor as an at-large elected position…