Annapolis is led by an elected Mayor and a Council of eight, positions that have NO requirement or qualifications beyond popularity. This group of nine runs the City by committee, the Mayor being but one vote among them from his “bully pulpit”. So, who’s in charge here? Nobody, really. It is amazing that anything ever gets done within this politically-charged environment. And, when it comes to really important matters, like the structure of governance for Annapolis, NOTHING does get done.
On September 13, the Annapolis Charter Review Commission (CRC), will submit its report to the City Council. While we don’t know what will be recommended in Charter changes, past CRCs, going back to the late 1990s have recommended a change in structure of government. If they do so again, we fear an outcome similar to past Charter Review Commissions: nothing will happen.
Despite the efforts of the 9-member Commission over the past year and input from residents, the City Council has, historically, been more concerned with self-preservation than with finding a “better way” to run the City.
In a 2002 Letter to the Editor, Matt Barry, a member of the 2001 CRC wrote
“ … (we) made a number of unanimous recommendations on ways to improve the operations, functioning and accountability of the city government. Unfortunately, the City Council … decided to act, with two minor exceptions, in its own self-interest rather than make needed changes to the governance of the city”. What a sad commentary on the work of past CRCs. Will we see the same outcome, again?
It’s about time for Annapolis to vote in a Charter change and adopt the Council-Manager form of government, used in more than 4000 communities nationwide. In the State of Maryland, the cities of Rockville, Gaithersburg, Salisbury and Bowie, along with many more, have C-M governments. These communities are managed by a professional City Manager, hired by and answering to the full Council. In Annapolis, the position now referred to as “City Manager” was, until 2010, called “City Administrator”. Then, the title changed, but the responsibilities remained the same. “True” City Managers come to cities with professional track records and career paths that demonstrate competence. They have experience in the preparation and execution of Operating and Capital budgets. They are directed to “balance the budget”, without regard to political expediencies. They can only be removed by the Council “for cause” … a necessary protection to keep the City Manager out of political disputes. The City Manager establishes performance metrics, and looks for efficiencies to make cost-effective improvements. While most cities conduct a national search for the best candidate, Annapolis tends to stay “local”, and frequently waives minimal City Code requirements for the job
(“ … an advanced degree in business or public administration and at least eight years’ experience in local government at the executive level …”).
Only three of 157 cities in Maryland has the ineffective Mayor-Council form of government: Annapolis, Frederick … and that paragon of “good government”, Baltimore. Do I have your attention, yet?
Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley serves as CEO and is compensated $98,000 + benefits per year. (By comparison, the Mayor of Rockville gets about $32,000 per year… and their four Council Members earn $5500 each … vs the eight Annapolis Council Members who will soon receive $19,000 per year, each.) The Mayor’s Office has a staff of 8 including various political-appointees. The total budget for the Mayor’s Office is $1.25 million. We also have a “City Manager” who receives $180,000 + benefits. The manager answers to and serves at the pleasure of the Mayor. The combined budget for the “City Manager’s Office” is $1.05 million. Overall, between the Mayor’s and City Manager’s offices, Annapolis tax-payers are burdened with $2.3 million of overhead to manage a City of just 39,000.
Rockville, Gaithersburg and Bowie have populations that are 50-75% greater than Annapolis, and are larger than Annapolis’ 7.5 sq. miles in area. Annapolis has a bureaucracy of 670 FTEs (Full-time Equivalent) Employees for a city of 39,000. While Rockville, Gaithersburg and Bowie have 620, 325 and 416 FTEs, respectively. How do other Maryland cities provide similar municipal services with fewer staff? Better Management. The Council-Manager form of government can provide that.
Without skilled, experienced leadership running our City, we will never break the cycle of an “unsustainable budget” and “structural deficit”. For Annapolis to be viable and sustainable, without riding on the backs of the tax-payer, it needs a more efficient form of government. The Council-Manager system is a better choice. It is up to the tax-payers and voters of Annapolis to demand that the Mayor and Council change the City Charter to allow for a Council-Manager form of government soon. Reach out to the Mayor and Council and tell them the time has come to make this Charter change.
