Gloversville residents will have an opportunity this month to offer their thoughts on a proposal that would change the city’s form of government. The plan has divided city officials.
Incorporated as a city in 1890, Gloversville has long been governed by a strong mayor system. Later this month, city residents will have the chance to explore the option of changing the city’s government to a city administrator system.
The proposed change is from First Ward City Councilor Robin Wentworth. Wentworth said there has always been a need for more oversight in city hall.
“The city taxpayers are paying $42,000 a year for someone full-time to run the day-to-day operations of the city, yet there’s no accountability for when that person does that job,” said Wentworth.
The city administrator/town manager form of government is growing in popularity in the United States. It typically involves a city council or legislative body hiring an outside individual, subordinate to the council, to manage full-time. Wentworth equated the system to running a business.
“The city is a $15 million business, it needs to be run by someone who has business experience who can be there day-to-day, 40 hours a week – not just pop in when it’s convenient,” said Wentworth.
Gloversville Mayor Dayton King takes issue with Wentworth’s proposal. The mayor, in first year of his second term, said Wentworth’s proposal to change city government is all politics.
“She wants to have more power on the Common Council. Right now we have a strong-mayor form of government. I think there’s some resentment, and jealousy if you will, but I think it’s for all the wrong reasons,” said King.
King has proposed his own ideas for change in the way the city is run. The mayor recently expressed interest in changing the way city council members are elected. Instead of local, ward-specific elections, the mayor’s proposal would change that to citywide elections.
King wants to see the strong-mayor system continue in Gloversville.
“I think there are some municipalities that have a city administrator and they work well, but I think right now we have a strong mayor form of government, we have great department heads, and we have great employees so I really don’t see a need for this change,” said King.
Wentworth maintains that the council hiring an expert in city government rather than an elected mayor is the best way to run the city of about 15,000.
“It makes more sense to have someone there with the experience and the knowledge to run a business the size of the city. There are over a hundred-and-some employees,” said Wentworth.
Mayor King said he wants all members of the community to come out and share their opinions on a potential city administrator, saying the salaries of a full-time administrator are often much higher than an elected mayor.
“I want to hear from the taxpayers and the business owners, and the people who really have a vested interest in our city, and see what they have to say,” said King.
The public hearing is set for July 22nd.
