Panel would revamp city government

The Havre Review Commission tentatively approved measures that could change the face of Havre city government.

The three-member panel will hold a public hearing on the proposal Wednesday, April, 27, at 7 p.m. at City Council chambers. If given final approval, the proposal would go to voters in November.

Under the proposal:

• A city manager would replace the mayor as the chief executive officer of the city. The manager would report to the City Commission.

• A seven-member City Commission would replace the City Council. Four members would be elected, one each from the four wards. Two would be elected at large, and the mayor would be elected at large.

The mayor would preside over commission meetings, vote on issues and perform ceremonial duties.

• A city charter would be created to give the city more control over its day-to-day affairs. Review Commission Chair Dave Brewer said the city is now limited to the authority specifically provided for in state law. Under the changes, the city and its voters would be able to make changes unless specifically prohibited by state law.

Brewer said his panel studied similar forms of government in Lewistown and Whitefish in deciding to switch to the city manager form of government.

He said the proposal will enable the commission to hire a full-time executive with experience in municipal government while keeping control over decision-making in the hands of the elected officials.

He compared it to the system used by the Havre Public Schools trustees who hire a superintendent to run the day-to-day affairs while maintaining control over the final decision-making.

“Well, yes and no,” he said, when asked after the meeting if the new system would cost more money.

While the manager will make more money than what Mayor Tim Solomon is now paid, the manager will have the expertise to handle matters that have in the past been farmed out to lawyers and professional labor negotiators.

“We are the largest city in Montana without a city manager,” he said, adding that several smaller cities, such as Lewistown, Whitefish and Dillon, have city managers.

He said it is incumbent on the panel’s three members to go out and present the plan to the public so they understand it.

Brewer said transition to the new form of government would not be difficult.

Four council members who were elected in the 2015 voting would remain for the final two years of their terms, simply switching over to the city commission.

The four council members whose terms expire with the 2017 elections would have to decide whether to leave office, run for the at-large positions or run for mayor.