‘Professional Should Lead At City Hall’

Manager/Administrator Would Oversee $20 Million Operation


Oneonta needs a “senior executive officer” – a city administrator or city manager – the Charter Revision Commission is concluding.
A periodic progress report from David Rissberger, commission chair, points out that City Hall is a $20 million operation in need of better “upward reporting and supervisory lines.”
 “We are convinced that the city would reap many financial and performance benefits from the addition of a qualified professional,” Rissberger states.
Reporting to “elected officials,” this individual would administer “day-to-day city business,” freeing up the mayor and aldermen to address policy and planning.
Now, “aldermen spend many hours dealing with urgent but minor administrative or budget-management issues,” he continues.  “City government functions are hampered by confusing roles and responsibilities for policy formulation and city operations.”
Rissberger issued the later progress report as Mayor Dick Miller convened his second annual Common Council retreat Saturday, Jan. 8, in City Hall, where he expressed confidence in the commission’s deliberations.
“Whatever they come up with,” he said, “I’m going to try to sell.”
The commission, appointed by former Mayor John Nader, is charged with updating a document that was only changed once – 40 years ago – in the city’s 102-year history, and still includes such aldermanic duties as fence watching to ensure domestic – cows, pigs and chickens – don’t wander.
According to Rissberger, the 49-page “densely written” charter needs, at the very least, to become more “user friendly.”
The commission’s deliberations should result in a proposed charter by this spring.  After public meetings and discussions over the summer, it will be on the election ballot in November.