Lawmaker pitches city manager concept
Scott-Childress’ suggestion for a different form of government isn’t backed by Noble
A top city lawmaker has suggested considering adopting a city manager form of government.
Democratic Majority Leader Rennie Scott-Childress, D-Ward 3, recently made that pitch in an
email.
“We should consider adopting a city manager form of government,” Scott-Childress stated. “This political moment is an ideal time to consider the city manager form of government.”
“Our partisan tribalism has led to toxic attacks on public officials, fights within families,
and bitter divisions over public policy,” Scott-Childress added. “While elected officials must always be those ultimately held responsible
for city performance of public safety, health, and community, our complex city operations might be run more efficiently and cost effectively by a trained professional. “
The suggestion comes at a time when Mayor Steve Noble has included a $5,000 raise in his proposed 2019 budget for the mayoral position. The annual salary is now at $75,000.
Noble has also said the salary should be raised each year by
$5,000 annually until it reaches $100,000.
Scott-Childress said he is bringing up the matter “in the context” of the mayor’s proposal for a raise.
“It is not meant to to be a separate initative,” Scoutt-Chidlress said Friday.
In his own email, Noble responded to Scott-Childress’ city manager suggestion saying that the strong mayor form of government now in place is preferable.
In part, Noble said city residents should decide who manages the city, not the Common Council, which would choose a city manager.
“I believe the current form of government in which we operate is the best option at this time,” Noble said. “I feel strongly it’s important that an elected leader is ultimately accountable for the operations of a city our size and that the public should decide who to entrust with
such a responsibility, rather than a manager that is selected by a small group of representatives.”
Noble said the current government works just fine.
“Based on regional examples of the various forms of government, I feel that Kingston is using an appropriate leadership model,” Noble said. “More broadly, we are seeing more and more that people want to be involved in positive change in their communities.”
“We have an incredibly diverse, dedicated and talented citizenry and my administration has worked to engage community members
to bring their talents to local government, whether its serving on a commission, working in a Civil Service position, or running for office,” the mayor said.
Former City GOP and Conservative Party Chairman Richard Cahill Jr. noted this is not the first time the city manager suggestion has arisen. In the early 1990s, voters rejected such a form of government, he noted.
Cahill also speculated that Scott-Childress’ pitch could be seen as a power grab since the Common Council likely would have the ultimately say in the selection of a city manager.
“It’s largely a power play,” said Cahill, who added that city managers are usually concerned about the “bottom line” in the short-term and not long-term traditions of a municipality.
Cahill also suggested that the idea might have come about because Noble’s request for mayoral raises was not paired with similar raises for council members.
The majority Democratic council, Cahill said, has been put in the precarious position of deciding whether Noble gets a raise. A favorable position may not be so popular with voters, Cahill added.
But Scott-Childress says the idea of a city manager may make sense.
“In our current ‘strongmayor’ system every municipal decision is subject to partisan interpretation,” ScottChildress said in his email. “There are clearly some issues in which Kingston residents will disagree, but there are others that are really about best management practices.”
Scott-Childress cited an example.
“Take the establishment of the Kingston Land Bank, for example,” he said. “This managerial approach now removes the sale of cityowned
properties from elected officials (which offers both the potential for and appearance of corruption) to a clearly ordained managerial body with a clearly articulated set of goals.”
“So a city manager would be able to take on those city operations that require managerial training and expertise and remove them from partisan turmoil,” ScottChildress said.
Scott-Childress conceded that all of this is “mere speculation on my part.”
“It just seems that this might be a good conversation to have at this moment,” he added.