Ann Mitchell, pictured in the background in her office at city hall, is a third-generation city manager who says public service is in her DNA.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
Local governments are not simply providers of municipal services; they are builders and sustainers of communities. I would further contend that they are the framework of our country.
The statement above formed part of the research for my Master’s Degree in Leadership through Royal Roads University (2021). My thesis question: How do we enhance the trust and respect between Municipal Council and CAO or City Managers?
This was a cross-Canada study, and there was strong indication that, in general, there is misunderstanding of the city manager’s role in local government.
The role is laid out in the Municipal Government Act as follows:
207 The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO): (a) Is the administrative head of the municipality; (b) Ensures that the policies and programs of the municipality are implemented; (c) Advises and informs the council on the operation and affairs of the municipality; (d) Performs the duties and functions and exercises the powers assigned by this and other enactments or assigned by council.
Similar to a CEO of a company that reports to a board of directors, the city manager runs the day-to-day operations of the municipality while reporting to city council. Once council members have set the direction of which programs they would like to provide, it is the city manager who decides how to implement these services.
As the principal adviser to council, the city manager must be politically astute and understand the community climate as well as the political landscape provincially, federally and globally. Additionally, the city manager must maintain relationships with a multitude and variety of vested partners both in the community and through the various levels of government.
The group StrategyCorp regularly surveys CAOs across Canada. The following is a quote from a recent StrategyCorp CAO Survey: “Despite their diversity, we found that CAOs share a commitment to finding solutions and to building better communities and service-delivery organizations.”
City managers serve as public servants, collaborating with elected officials to benefit our communities. As a third-generation city manager, public service is in my DNA, and I am honoured to serve my community every day.
Ann Mitchell is the city manager for the City of Medicine Hat
