Advantages of an Administrator / Manager
Expertise
Municipal administrators are trained to operate cities, villages, and towns. They are professionals in the same way that company executives, school superintendents, doctors, and attorneys are professionals.Most of them have master's degrees in public administration, with training in budgeting, finance, personnel, labor relations, intergovernmental affairs, public works, community and economic development, and public safety. They gain administrative experience in other communities before they are ready to assume the position of municipal administrator. They are part of a network of expertise and they know where to go to get the correct answers. They are committed to municipal administration as a career.
The community's success is their success and, consequently, they have a very strong interest in doing the best job possible.
Responsive Organizational Structure
Administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operations of their municipalities. It is their responsibility to bring coordination to the provision of municipal services. They work to build a municipal team of department heads and other employees. They establish and enforce policies in the areas of personnel, purchasing, cash management, risk management, planning, and employee development in order to provide more efficient and effective government.Having an administrator provides more direct accountability to the board or council for the proper operation of municipal services. Elected officials know who is responsible. A dissatisfied board or council can easily dismiss the administrator.
Stronger Boards and Councils
Elected boards and councils benefit in several ways from an administrator:- They now can spend more of their valuable time focusing on policy issues, community goals, and major projects rather than on administrative details.
- They get better and more comprehensive information and analysis from the administrator in a staff role to enable them to make more informed decisions.
- The changing role of the board or council may encourage more people to run for elected office.
- The administrator can provide continuity when new persons are elected as officials.