Westminster is taking action for the first time to hire a nonpolitical point person to run its government.
“The city is too big to be managed by a part-time mayor,” said Council Member Robert Wack.
The council proposed the ordinance for the full-time position at Monday?s meeting.
The job was likened to a chief administrative officer who would oversee the day-to-day administrative duties of the city?s $25 million operation and more than 160 employees.
“All the department heads will report to him/her, and he/she will act as the mayor?s agent, implementing the mayor?s executive decisions and the policy direction given by the council,” Wack said.
Mayor Thomas Ferguson supported the continuity a professional manager would provide.
“You can?t make the position absolutely bulletproof, but there must be some stability during inevitable political changes,” he said.
The positive working relationship between the council and mayor has allowed such a “massive” reorganization of city government to proceed, Wack said. This was evidenced as they worked on establishing a chain of command and expectations between the city departments and the proposed position.
“Monday evening?s exercise demonstrated how there is so much cross-fertilization in different sections of the code,” Ferguson said.
Three of the five council members must approve the mayor?s nomination. To remove the city administrator would take a vote of either four council members or the mayor and three council members.
The Mercer Group Inc., a management consulting firm, will receive up to $22,500 to identify candidates.
The final draft of the ordinance will be voted on during the council?s April 24 meeting.
