After due consideration by the members of the Charter Study Commission, this plan was discarded. It was the group opinion that this form would offer no significant advantages over our present form of government in Sparta. This form of government is usually proposed to remedy the difficulties experienced by other forms of municipal government. This form was first adopted in the Town of Sumter, South Carolina, in 1912. It was hailed with approval by civic organizations like the National Municipal League, and taxpayers associations.
Political scientists consider the form America's chief contribution to local government.
Small council usually elected at large who have the legislative and policy-making responsibility. A professionally trained town manager hired by the council and subject to dismissal by it. Most towns and cities using the manager plan report no structural defects. In a very few cases, strong political machines have retained their hold on the council, a non-professional manager has been appointed and politics has been injected into administration. But this is the exception and not the rule.