Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Council/Staff Relationships

Question:
Our council and staff needs guidance on what constitutes appropriate contacts between individual council members and city staff. Some council members ask staff (other than the city manager) directly for information they desire. This causes problems because information is given to one council member and not to others. It sort of puts the city manager in the middle.

Answer:
Direction on appropriate council action with respect to city staff can be incorporated into council rules or ethics policies. Grand Ledge has a section devoted to it in their code of conduct on city council relations with city staff. Manistee covers the issue in their council rules. Both these cities encourage council members to work through their city managers for information from city staff. Please send any written guidelines your city or village has adopted on the subject.