Facilitating Community, Enabling Democracy: New Roles for Local Government Managers

Abstract

City management professional have identified four changes that have occurred over the past 10 years in their roles, responsibilities, and values. First, community building has become part of the city management professional's role and responsibility. Second, managers ave increasingly expected to facilitate participation and representation, and to develop partnerships. Third, there is less adherence to the council-manager plan as the "one best form "of government. And last, the manager's internal administrative vole has become more process oriented. At a time when the value of government is being questioned these changes provide direction for strengthening the local government professional's legitimacy in the eyes of citizens.