Town Considers Switch to Mayor - Council Form of Government
Emphasizing that no decisions have been made, mayor Betty Wallace has confirmed that the Town of Oak Island is considering big changes, including potentially switching the form of government to one without a manager.
While such a move could mean potential cost savingsfor the town, it also would mean added responsibilities for the council and mayor.
Many towns with a mayor-council form of government, instead of a council-manager form, hire a town administrator, though not all do. An individual administrator's duties are defined by the town council, but are usually more limited than those of a town manager, which are defined in part by state statutes.
One of the main differences in duties pertains to decisions about personnel. In council-manager governments, managers have direct control over the hiring and firing of personnel; councils may eliminate entire positions, but cannot hire or fire most specific employees, with some exceptions like the position of town manager or town attorney.
With a mayor-council government, the council can hire or fire employees in different positions by majority vote, though that responsibility can be delegated to department heads if the council so chooses.
The form of government can be changed if council holds a public hearing and then passes an ordinance amending the town charter, or by referendum. Any change is effective for two years, and the type of government cannot be changed again until after those two years have elapsed.
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