City of Gresham
Measure No. 26-69
BALLOT TITLE
REMOVAL OF TIME LIMITATION ON APPOINTMENT OF MANAGER PRO TEM
QUESTION: Shall the six-month time limitation on appointment of a pro tem city manager be removed?
SUMMARY: The current city charter requires council to appoint a pro tem manager when the city manager is temporarily unable to perform his or her duties or when the city manager position becomes vacant. The time period for which a pro tem manager may serve is limited to six months. The measure removes the six month time limitation, and provides that a pro tem manager may serve until the manager is able to return to work or, in the case of a vacancy, until the vacancy has been filled and a new city manager appointed. The measure would take effect on January 1, 2005.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
The current Gresham City Charter was adopted May 2, 1978. It was last revised by the voters on November 3, 1998. Pursuant to the terms of the charter, the city council convened a Charter Review Committee comprised of local citizens to complete a periodic review of the charter and address a variety of issues and concerns that had been raised regarding the document. On January 20, 2004, the 2003 Charter Review Committee recommended removal of the charter provision limiting the time in which a pro tem manager may serve when the city manager position is vacant. On August 3, 2004, council approved sending the measure to the voters at the November 2004 election.
The Gresham City Charter establishes the powers and duties of the city manager position. Under the form of government by which Gresham operates, the city manager is the administrative head of the city and responsible for the day-to-day and long term operations of the organization -- everything from overseeing the enforcement of ordinances, entering into city contracts, hiring and firing staff, and purchasing supplies, to preparation and application of the city budget. The manager is also responsible for implementing the policies established by the city council. The position reports directly to the city council.
The current city charter requires council to appoint a pro tem or interim manager when the city manager is temporarily disabled or unable to perform his or her duties or when the city manager position becomes vacant for any reason. Once appointed, a pro tem manager possesses all of the powers and duties of the city manager. This ensures that the business of the city will continue. Currently, the time period for which a pro tem or interim manager may serve is limited to six months. Experience has shown that the recruitment and selection process for qualified individuals to fill this type of management and leadership position often exceeds this six-month period.
The measure removes the six month time limitation on these temporary appointments, and provides that a pro tem or interim manager may serve until the manager is able to return to work or, in the case of a vacancy, until the vacancy has been filled and a new city manager appointed. The charter provision that requires the city council to appoint a permanent manager when a vacancy occurs “as expeditiously as possible” will remain unchanged.
If approved by the voters, the measure would take effect on January 1, 2005.
Submitted by:
Debbie Jermann,
Gresham City Clerk
No arguments FOR or AGAINST this measure were filed