Rockville Form of Government

The City of Rockville has operated for more than 55 years under what is called the council-manager form of government, which is the most prevalent form in the United States today. The council-manager is comparable to a corporate management structure with a board of directors, equivalent to the Rockville Mayor and Council, and a CEO, equivalent to our city manager.

The council-manager form combines the strong political leadership of elected officials as the governing body with the strong managerial experience of an appointed governmental manager. All the policy and financial power is concentrated in the elected officials who hire a professionally trained manager to oversee the delivery of services.

This means that Mayor and Council are the community leaders and policy makers and responsive to the citizens' wishes with a manager whose responsibility is carrying out policy and ensuring services delivery. Like a corporation, the city manager, or CEO, serves at the pleasure of the governing body, the Mayor and Council.

Over the past couple of years, some on the Mayor and Council have publicly questioned the motives and performance of city staff, including the city manager. These same individuals have also had surrogates criticize the city manager and staff in open meetings.

During this year’s final budget decisions, the city manager’s contract, which had been negotiated and agreed to in an executive session, was brought up for discussion at the council meeting—an inappropriate 11th hour interjection. It represented a very unprofessional and inappropriate public undermining of our chief executive, the city manager. Airing this kind of issue in public is a “cardinal sin” in the treatment of a corporate or public executive. It just isn’t done this way!

This action undermines the organization as well as the reputation and standing of the city manager with the staff and the public, and could create unintended short and long-term consequences. Leadership requires mature judgment about the proper handling of city administrative and personnel matters. This action was at its worst a misfeasance of office or, minimally, an alarming lack of leadership and judgment. These matters must be handled professionally and appropriately for the benefit of City Hall and our citizens.

Our city manager has now announced his retirement and an expensive recruitment process will have to be carried out for a replacement.

The author is a former Rockville mayor and former City Councilman.