An agency’s professional staff will be an important source of information for newly-elected officials. If your agency does not have an orientation for newly elected officials, make an appointment to get acquainted.
Some questions to ask include:
What issues does the agency executive see as most pressing?
What process does the agency use for developing and approving its budget? What are the key budgetary challenges?
What is the status of long-range plans and capital projects?
Are there other key staff members with whom the official should meet and be briefed by, based on their particular interests?
Other information on staff/elected issues appear below.
Different local agencies use different names for the chief
executive officer: city manager, city or county administrator,
chief executive officer, and executive director are among a few.
Jan Perkins of ICMA shares with elected officials the
responsibilities and nature of the governing body serving as an
employer of the manager or executive.
Public agency staff play a number of roles. Some of these roles
involve providing agency services and facilities; others involve
presenting information and analysis to decision-makers.
Elections can result in a change of the majority philosophy on a
local governing body. The agency’s staff typically
understand that it is their job to implement any new policy
direction.
When county or city employees are represented by a union, the
agency must negotiate with that union regarding their pay and
benefits, working hours, and working conditions.
Staff, do you need help with orientation materials? Check out ILG’s carefully selected resources for newly elected officials on core local government concepts.
