Havre city manager to go on November ballot

Havre City Council is holding the first of two meetings Friday to allow it to put on November’s ballot the proposal for Havre to switch to a council-manager form of government.

In the email sending the agenda for Friday’s meeting, Mayor Doug Kaercher said that in order to put the proposal on the ballot, the city council must vote on the proposal twice before filing it with the clerk and recorder before the Aug. 15 deadline, so meetings will be held for that purpose Friday and Aug. 12.

The regular city council meeting still will be held Monday, Aug. 1, Kaercher said.

The topic has come up several times in the last few decades, usually tied together with a proposal to switch Havre to a charter government.

The combined proposals never have passed, but the charter government proposal was passed by the voters of Havre in 2020.

The city government has had two discussions of the advantages and disadvantages of having a city manager at Town Halls in recent months.

The proposed ordinance says the city council has determined switching to a council-manager form of government is in the best interests of Havre and poses no disadvantages while providing the advantage of having a “competent professional who shall serve as the chief administrative officer” of the city at the direction of city council.

The proposed ordinance says the mayor “shall be recognized as the head of city government for all ceremonial purposes and public statements and shall have no other executive or administrative duties, except as specifically prescribed by the council.”

That includes presiding at meetings of the council and participating in discussions at those meeting, and appointing all members of boards and committees with the approval of city council, other than temporary committees set by the manager. The mayor also would have to report to the city council as the council may require.

The manager would take over many of the duties now done by the mayor.

The proposed ordinance says the tasks and duties include that the city manager shall be the chief executive and administrative officer of the city of Havre, appointed by the council for an indefinite term on the basis of merit and the council shall fix his or her compensation by contract.

The council may remove the city manager from office at any regularly scheduled or special meeting called for that purpose.

The duties of city manager would include enforcing all city laws, ordinances and resolutions and performing all duties required by law, ordinance or resolution.

The manager also would administer the affairs of the city; direct, supervise and administer all departments, agencies, and offices of the city except as otherwise provided by law or ordinance, as well as carry out policies established by the council.

The manager also would prepare the city council agenda and recommend measures to the council, present reports to the council, prepare and present the city budget to the council for its approval and attend council meetings and discuss measures at those meetings but not have a vote.

The manager also would appoint, suspend and remove all employees of the city except as provided by law or ordinance and appoint members of temporary advisory committees established by the city manager.