Local Government in Connecticut, Third Edition

4. Key Local Government Officials and Their Roles

ChApTEr 4 Key Local Government Officials and Their Roles Local government has become quite complex over the years. The original role of municipal officials of taking care of roads and watching out for the general welfare has expanded significantly. This need for specialization is a result of population increase, federal and state mandates, technical-knowledge requirements, and a general demand for a particular public service. Several positions now require state certification, or the ability to obtain certification within a certain amount of time. Others require a professional degree or license. A few chapters in this book expand on the role of some of these municipal positions, while others are mentioned only in passing. This chapter is designed to briefly highlight key municipal officials. It is not intended to be all-inclusive. Many cities and towns, depending upon their size, either do not have these officials or share them with other municipalities. Those in this list are involved in both influencing and implementing public policy, some more than others. Since they are involved with public policy, they are important officers of a municipality. Several of these positions can be either appointed or elected, depending upon state statute or the local charter. Chief executive officer. Each municipality will have a mayor, first selectman (or selectperson) or town or city manager, depending upon the form of government. The CEO is charged with the day-to-day responsibilities of running the municipality and, basically, is the person in charge. The CEO’s duties are spelled out in the municipal charter and/or in state statutes. There are several statutory responsibilities attached to this position. The mayor and the first selectman, or selectperson, are elected. There are no qualification to become elected other than residency and age. The largest cities in the state have mayors, although there are mayors in smaller communities. Key Local Government Officials and Their Roles 31 The town or city manager is appointed by the town or city council based on his or her education and experience. The manager does not vote with the council. He or she carries out the public policy as adopted by the governing body. The duties of the CEO’s range from the critical and super-important to the mundane. All have many night meetings. Some CEO’s have noted that they come into work before the janitor and stay well after he has left, sometimes finishing up the cleaning. Some selectmen have been known to take care of horses and other wildlife that have broken out of corrals. They represent the municipality at local public meetings, as well as meetings at the state and federal levels of government. Many selectmen are part-time positions. They quickly become known to the citizens in their community. Superintendent of schools. This is an appointed position that serves as the chief executive officer of the school system for the board of education. The superintendent has executive authority over the school system and is responsible for its supervision. He or she reports only to the board of education and not to the governing body of the municipality. The statutes are clear that it is the superintendent that is responsible for supervising and evaluating all of the educational staff. He or she may receive up to a three-year employment contract. The superintendent must have a superintendent’s certification from the state. He or she oversees school operations on a day-to-day basis. The superintendent is in the state teachers’ retirement plan, administered by the CTRB, the Connecticut Teachers’ Retirement Board. Finance director. This position is responsible for budget preparation, monthly financial reports, approving purchase orders, supervising financial staff if there are any, closing the books at the end of the year, and preparing financial reports for the auditors. In many small towns, these financial responsibilities can fall on a bookkeeper or on the CEO. If the annual budget is prepared in a notably professional manner, the municipality can apply for the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) “Distinguished Budget Award,” the sign of a professional municipal budget and an honor for a town or city, its chief executive officer and its finance director. Several finance directors hold the Certified Public Finance Officers (CPFO) designation . The director also becomes involved in collective bargaining, pensions, bonding, and any other financial issues relating to the municipality. In a few instances in Connecticut, the municipal financial director also handles the financial operations for the board of education. School business official. The board of...