An assistant city manager supports the city manager in their responsibilities, has specific ongoing responsibilities, and may take over all responsibilities if the manager is unable to. They participate in budget preparation, hiring/firing, and act as a liaison between departments. They may also represent the local government at meetings and community functions. Their authority is delegated by the city manager based on guidelines from the mayor and/or city council.
The assistant city manager is a designated administrator who supports the city manager in any and all responsibilities assigned by a mayor or city council to that manager. In turn, the assistant city manager is given specific ongoing responsibilities, in addition to sometimes taking on tasks related to short-term projects approved by the mayor or council. With many city statutes and bylaws, the assistant city manager may be empowered to take over all responsibilities of the city manager in the event that the manager becomes incapacitated or leaves office for any reason.
Assistant city managers are part of the team that ensures the city is operating efficiently. Depending on the decisions of the elected officials governing the jurisdiction, the assistant city manager may participate in the preparation of citywide budgets and handle the hiring and firing of various administrative staff. The assistant manager can also function as the liaison between departments and the heads of departments such as the police, fire department and sanitation department.
It is not uncommon for an assistant city manager to represent the local civil government at various meetings around the city. Sometimes the assistant manager may be called upon to act officially to make announcements to the local press and the wider community. The assistant may also attend meetings of the local Chamber of Commerce or trade union as the official spokesperson for the local government.
Part of the assistant city manager’s job in many municipalities must be directly involved in any type of employment relationship, including disputes with local unions. For this reason, most assistant managers of this type are well trained in contract negotiations and strategy. The aim is usually to come up with a solution to the dispute that the union and city council can accept and support.
An assistant city manager may also represent the city council and mayor at community functions. This includes public gatherings such as parades, grand openings for new businesses, or any type of public relations event where it is deemed appropriate for city government to be represented. In this perspective, the role of the assistant city manager is not only as an administrator, but also as a direct link between the government and the citizens of the city.
The degree of latitude and authority accorded to an assistant city manager will vary from situation to situation. In general, the assistant has only the authority delegated to him by the city manager. In turn, the city manager can only delegate so much authority to the assistant, based on guidelines provided by the mayor and/or city council.
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