Local Government Organization

Welcome!  Almost 90,000 units of local government in the United States  No level of government plays a more active role in our daily lives than local  Thank you for taking the time to learn about your community

The Center of the Universe

Charles Hartgrove, ICMA-CM  Appointed as Town Manager of Ashland in August 2003  Previously served as Town Manager in Middleburg and Gate City, VA  18 years experience as Town Manager  International City/County Management Association Credentialed Manager  Born in Portsmouth, VA and raised in Gate City, VA

Government 101  Federal Laws  State Laws  Constitution of Virginia (1971)  Code of Virginia (15.2)  Judicial Review (Federal and State)  Town Charter (Granted by the Virginia General Assembly)  Town Code 

COTU

Dillon Rule vs. Home Rule  In Municipal Corporations (1872), Dillon explained that in contrast to the powers of states, which are unlimited but for express restrictions under the state or federal constitution, municipalities only have the powers that are expressly granted to them.municipalities

Dillon Rule  Critics of the rule have argued that it imposes unreasonable constraints on the ability of communities to govern themselves and undermines democracy or that local self-government is a matter of natural right that does not need to be conferred by higher political structures.

Home Rule  Home rule involves the authority of a local government to prevent state government intervention with its operations. The extent of its power however, is subject to limitations prescribed by state constitutions and statutes.

Home Rule  When a municipality or other political subdivision has the power to decide for itself whether to follow a particular course of action without receiving specific approval from state officials, it acts pursuant to such powers.

Unusual Features of Virginia  Statewide pattern of city-county separation  Fewer units of local government  Fewer cities & less use of special districts  No independent school divisions  Fewer elected officials per capita  Broader use of the council-manager plan, or variation, in cities, counties, & larger towns  Greater reluctance to extend taxing powers to special-purpose governments

COTU

Forms of Local Government  Towns vs. Cities  Cities are independent geographically  Towns are territorial subdivisions of the counties within which they are located  Towns can perform the same municipal functions as cities, except that they do not have constitutional officers

Forms of Local Government  In general, towns receive from the county services such as health, mental health, education, courts, and social services  Town inhabitants pay taxes to the county as well as the town, and they vote in county elections.

Forms of Local Government  Towns cannot levy sales taxes but share county sales tax revenues  Town annexations, unlike city annexations, do not remove territory from the county  This town-county arrangement is similar to the city-county relationship found in other states  The fact that town and county responsibilities overlap can lead to ambiguity and even conflict

COTU

What can the citizens expect from their town government?  Land Use  Kinds of Services  Levels of Services  Taxing & Borrowing

Forms of Local Government  Differences between mayor-council & council-manager forms of governments  Required duties of a manager

Mayor-Council  Several of the Commonwealth’s smaller communities utilize this form of government where the Mayor serves as the chief administrative officer (VA Code § )  Council Committee Structure oversees daily administration above and beyond policy implementation and planning responsibilities

Council-Manager  Council-manager government combines the strong political leadership of elected officials with the strong managerial experience of an appointed manager or administrator.  All power and authority to set policy rests with an elected governing body, which includes a mayor or chairperson and members of the council, commission, or board. The governing body in turn hires a nonpartisan professional manager who has very broad authority to run the organization.

What is a Town Manager? Are you the Mayor?

Council-Manager  Every community is different. Factors such as population, level of public services, size of staff and unique local conditions contribute to the expectations of council for the manager.  VA Code § details the required duties for a town manager.  Town Manager works at the pleasure of the Council

Council-Manager  See that within the city or town the laws ordinances, resolutions, and bylaws of the council are faithfully executed  Attend all meetings of the council and recommend for adoption such measures as the manager deems expedient  Make reports to the council from time to time upon the affairs of the city or town

Council-Manager  Keep the council fully advised of the city’s or town’s financial condition and its future financial needs  Prepare and submit to the council a proposed budget for the fiscal year  Execute the budget as finally adopted by the council

COTU

Council-Manager  Appoint all officers and employees of the locality, except as he or she may authorize the head of an office, department, and board responsible to the manager to appoint subordinates  Perform any other duties prescribed by the council that are not in conflict with the foregoing

Council-Manager  ICMA Code of Ethics  Town Manager is a facilitator of policy and ideas  An effective manager should be able to implement and communicate council’s vision for the community

Town Council  5 elected at-large members  Staggered May elections in even numbered years (3 & 2 seats)  Mayor and Vice-Mayor elected by Town Council members at an organizational meeting held in July after each election  Council appoints Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Town Clerk

Town Council  Sets Policy for the Town of Ashland  Appoints members to the Planning Commission, Economic Development Authority, Parks and Recreation Committee, Board of Zoning Appeals, and other ad hoc committees as needed

COTU

Town-County relations  Town-County Liaison Committee  Staff work jointly on strategic issues such as economic development, tourism, and other topics  County provides town residents public schools, public utilities, building inspectors office, fire marshal, assessor's office, registrar's office, parks and recreation, and transfer station access  Town Manager and County Administrator relationship

Regional Participation  Richmond Regional Planning District Commission richmondregional.orgrichmondregional.org  Richmond Regional Transportation Organization  Pamunkey Regional Jail Authority  Capital Region Collaborative

Commonwealth of Virginia  General Assembly  Governor’s Office  Department of Environmental Quality - DEQ, Health Department - VDH, VA Department of Transportation - VDOT, Department of Housing and Community Development - DHCD, Department of Rail and Public Transportation DRPT, etc.

Federal Government  House & Senate  Executive Branch  Environmental Protection Agency - EPA, Department of Transportation - DOT, Federal Railroad Administration - FRA, etc.

Challenges for Local Gov’t  Local governments are increasingly being asked to do more with less.  Federal and state support is declining.  Citizens are demanding a more caring, responsive government.  New technology is revolutionizing communication.

COTU – Est. 1858

Helpful Websites  hanovercounty.gov  vml.org – Virginia Municipal League  vaco.org – VA Assoc. of Counties  Virginia.gov  icma.org  coopercenter.org - UVA

Website & Social Media   Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  YouTube  Flickr

Questions?