How will the mayor’s role change under the proposed system?

Under the recommended changes, the mayor would become a full-time elected official who would no longer step in to break tie votes on the Common Council. This oddity often served to blur the lines between the executive and legislative functions of each branch. The Mayor would also be empowered to hire and fire department heads, providing him/her with the authority necessary to clearly direct the city’s priorities.

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1. Why was the charter commission started? What was its goal?
2. What has the Commission done prior to making its recommendations?
3. Will the charter changes solve our problems?
4. What is a strong vs. weak mayor? What do we have right now?
5. What other forms did you consider?
6. How will the mayor’s role change under the proposed system?
7. Why make the mayor full-time?
8. Why create a ninth council member? What powers will they have?
9. Why make the ninth council member the presiding officer? Why not let the council people pick their own chair?
10. Isn’t it the Mayor’s job to represent all the wards? Why create another position?
11. What do you say to people who say the council chair will always from the 4th or 8th ward?
12. Won’t this cost us more money which we don’t have?
13. We want less government not more?