The Role of the City Manager: The Forgotten Link in Municipal Administration

Cities work best when they have good councillors, good professional staff, and a good relationship between these two groups.Out of concern that this relationship has been deteriorating, the provincial government recently passed legislation requiring all municipalities to have a code of conduct governing council-staff relations. But has the Province ignored an essential and threatened contributor to municipal government’s success over the past half-century?

This presentation discusses one of the most important changes in municipal administration — the rise of the City Manager/Chief Administrative Officer. It looks at the development of the position, as well as its strengths and some of the shoals that need to be navigated to ensure that the position continues to fulfill its important role.

About the Speakers

Michael Fenn was an Ontario Deputy Minister under three Premiers, after several decades in Ontario local government, including as city manager in Burlington, and chief administrative officer in Hamilton. The founding CEO of both transportation authority Metrolinx and regional health authority Mississauga Halton LHIN, he now writes and consults on municipal and infrastructure issues.

David Siegel is the interim Dean of the Faculty of Education and Professor of Political Science at Brock University. His most recent book is Leaders in the Shadows: The Leadership Qualities of Municipal Chief Administrative Officers. He has an M.A. in Public Administration from Carleton and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto. He is also a Chartered Professional Accountant.