1. Ashland Citizen Leadership Academy
Local Government Organization
Ashland Citizen Leadership Academy

2. 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

3. The Center of the Universe

4. Joshua Farrar, ICMA-CM
Appointed 10/25/2016 as Interim Town Manager of Ashland
Served for ten years as Assistant Town Manager/Deputy Town Manager
Previously served as Assistant to the City Administrator in Prairie Village, KS.
13 years experience in local government
International City/County Management Association Credentialed Manager
Born in Leominster, MA and raised in Sterling, MA

5. 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

6. COTU

7. COTU

8. COTU

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.  

13. 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

14. COTU

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. COTU

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

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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. What is a Town Manager? Are you the Mayor?

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. COTU

28. 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

29. Council-Manager ICMA Code of Ethics www.icma.org
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

30. 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

31. 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

32. COTU

33. 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

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

35. 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.

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

37. 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.

38. COTU – Est. 1858

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

40. Website & Social Media www.town.ashland.va.us Facebook Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Flickr

41. Questions?

42. The Gap Between Politics and Administration
Understanding the Theoretical Role of the Town Manager

45. Two Important Concepts
Political acceptability
The willingness of elected leaders, as representatives of the community, to accept a specific program, policy, or project.
Administrative Sustainability
Need for programs, policies, and projects to be efficiently maintained for the long term

49. Questions?