True or False: In the council-manager form of government, the council may direct municipal employees who are under the city manager's supervision.
Answer: False
In the council-manager form of government, the manager by state law serves as the chief executive officer and head of the administrative branch of the municipal government and is responsible to the municipal council for the proper administration of all affairs of the municipality.
The mayor and councilmembers are forbidden by law from dealing with employees or interfering with the operation of the departments, offices and agencies that are under the direction of the manager. The prohibition includes no direct involvement in the hiring or firing of the employees under the manager or directly dealing with or giving orders to employees.
The mayor and council set policy and employ the city manager.
Want to learn more? The Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government offers in-person and online courses. Elected officials who complete all of the required coursework graduate from the institute and are eligible to participate in the Advanced Institute.
The next in-person sessions, held February 7, will be Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government Sessions A and B and Advanced Institute. The Advanced MEO Institute courses offered will be "Municipal Utility Policy and Administration" and "Advanced Advocacy and Intergovernmental Relations."