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.