Council-Manager Form of Government

The Town of Ponce Inlet's Charter designates the form of government is the council-manager government. This system of government is used in the majority of American cities. In the council-manager form of government, an elected municipal council is responsible for making policy, passing ordinances, voting appropriations, and having overall supervisory authority in the municipal government. In such a government, the mayor will perform strictly ceremonial duties or will act as a member and presiding officer of the council, similar to a chairperson.

Municipal Manager or Administrator

The council will appoint a municipal manager or administrator who will be responsible for supervising government operations and implementing the policies adopted by the council. The manager serves the council, usually with a contract that specifies duties and responsibilities. Ideally, the manager maintains an apolitical status.

Publicly-Traded Corporation

The council-manager system can be seen to place all power into the hands of the legislative branch. However, a municipal manager can be seen as a similar role to that of corporate chief executive officer (CEO) in providing professional management to an organization. Council-manager government is much like a publicly-traded corporation.

In a corporation, the board of directors appoints a CEO, makes major decisions and wields representative power on behalf of shareholders. In council-manager government, the municipal council appoints a municipal manager, makes major decisions, and wields representative power on behalf of the citizens.