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House Passes Mayor/Municipal Manager Bill
HB 289 Would Prevent Confusion as Communities Consider Changes

(JUNEAU) - Communities considering modifying their system of municipal government would know more clearly when the new system would take effect and what the effect might be on their municipal leaders, under House Bill 289, which passed the House unanimously today.

"This bill is a simple cleanup of state regulations that will make it clear to the voters exactly what position to which they are electing someone," said Rep. Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak), who sponsored the bill. "It will make it equally clear to the candidates what position they are running for and what position they may actually be elected to fill."

In a "strong mayor" system, the mayor is an elected chief administrator with significant powers, including the authority to hire and fire municipal employees. In a "city manager" system, the mayor may be a largely ceremonial post, while the manager is hired by the municipal assembly and has direct responsibility for directing the day-to-day operations of municipal government.

HB 289 would clarify that when a municipal government changes from manager to a strong mayor system, the new mayor's term would take effect either the last day of the current manager's term, or one year after the change was adopted and certified.

"This bill in no way takes away any public rights to change their form of government or select a mayor," Stevens said. "But the confusion occurs when both actions are taking place simultaneously. This bill would add a year's grace between the change of government and the change of the mayor's position."

The bill also allows municipalities that do chose to switch to a manager system to hold special elections to fill the manager's job, so that a person elected to the less-demanding role of mayor is not obligated to assume the more-demanding responsibilities of manager for the rest of the term.

HB 289 moves next to the Senate for consideration.

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