During the recent elections, a number of communities in Illinois held referenda concerning the hiring of managers and administrators for their governing bodies. Some Councils and Boards have made the decision to hire an administrator without holding referenda and have faced political flak because of their decision. Professional management adds the expertise which comes from having an individual trained in the field of local government participate in the running of the municipality.
Managers have a variety of responsibilities.
They organize and work with department heads, front line supervisors and technical staff to implement programs and deliver public services. They are knowledgeable about changing and expanding state and federal regulations, public finance and public budgeting. They have access to information about the latest trends in infrastructure improvements and economic development practices. Through their professional contacts, they share a wealth of information and experience about the successful operations of municipal government. Professional administrators have the skills to take a problem or opportunity facing a community, research the options available for dealing with the situation, present the pros and cons of those options to the governing body, and then implement the final decision reached by the elected officials.