Tarboro's Government 101
Last week I learned something about Tarboro's form of government.
I thought I'd like to talk to Mayor Donald Morris about the future 2nd Saturdays events, in hopes that he could inform me of any red tape that we might encounter. 
I knew that up until he retired from business, Mr Morris could be found at his furniture store on Main Street, but now, I had no idea where to find him. I asked at the town hall and was given his home phone number and his cellphone number.
I thought it was very strange that the mayor doesn't have an official office, so I did what I always do, I researched.
According to the town website:
"Tarboro operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The Mayor is elected at-large on a non-partisan basis for a four-year term. Eight Council Members are elected from wards on a non-partisan basis for four-year staggered terms. A professional manager is employed to administer the operation of the Town. A team of seven department heads assist the manager."
My next step was to understand what is meant by a Council-Manager form of government, so off to my favorite web source Wikipedia.
" In the council-manager form of government, an elected city council is responsible for making policy, passing ordinances, voting appropriations, and having overall supervisory authority in the city government. In such a government, the mayor will perform strictly ceremonial duties or will act as a member and presiding officer of the council, similar to a chairman. The council will appoint a city manager or administrator who will be responsible for supervising government operations and implementing the policies adopted by the council. The manager serves the council, usually with a contract that specifies duties and responsibilities. "
So ... if I've got this right, the councilmen are responsible for making all of the important decisions for our town, the mayor acts as the chairman at meetings, and the city manager's position is to supervise operations and implement the policies adopted by the council.
One small problem, which may have screwed things up a bit around here, the town manager has an office at the town hall, everybody knows where to find him. The mayor and council are scattered about town and not as easily accessible and available. As a result, the town manager has become the hub of our government's information exchange. It may or may not be factual, but it is a common impression held by citizens around town, that our town manager's opinions are greatly affecting the choices and decisions made by the council on behalf of the town.
Our town manager was employed to supervise operations and implement policies adopted by the council. He is our town manager, he is not a town leader, he was not elected by the people to make or to affect decisions made on our behalf. I mean no disrespect to the man. Sam Noble has done an excellent job as our town manager, but I am not incorrect in stating that many town citizens are concerned about his apparent "power" in council decisions. Even more troublesome, is how the town citizens feel about their own "lack of power".
The more I become interested in the revitalization of Tarboro, the more I recognize the depth of what needs to be done. If we want Tarboro to be a town of excellence, we need to rethink how things have been done and look to how things should be done in the future.
Grassroots of Tarboro
in Tarboro, NC, Tarboro People, Downtown Revitalization, Grassroots Organizing
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2 Comments
Reader Comments (2)
Amen.
I am with you. I hope you are all reading about Noble's antics as the Chairman (second time around) of ElectriCities, the entity that makes your electric rates sky high or pole high.
Read some of the junk about this place from both sides of the aisle.
http://bluenc.com/electric-cities%E2%80%99-future-at-stake%3A-soaring-costs%2C-mismanagement-in-raleigh-threaten-eastern-nc
http://katysconservativecorner.typepad.com/katy/2008/04/richards-pal-by.html
There is an organized group and you can read their thoughts at www.talkingaboutpolitics.com and on the wilson times forum.
June 27 is a Rate Committee Meeting in Rocky Mount at the Braswell Library and Sam Noble will be there without an ethic to his name - the CEO told no one about a bad refinance deal for 6 months and now he forced the CFO out and our rates will go up big time. Meanwhile, under Sam and Tilton the CEO, legal costs are sky high, lobbyists number 10 on contract and 4-5 on staff, lobbyistskeep leaving, settlements keep coming. And this is our money.
Cities - Don't be fooled about what ElectriCities is saying about renewables and how, woe is them they have to meet the percentages. In the NC General Assembly, there was a working group and the big investor owned utilities were there negotiating simply because they wanted cost recovery procedures for fuel charges and project development for new nuclear. Period and end of discussion. They are regulated utilities and they SOUGHT legislation to get relief they knew they would not get without legislation. As a payment for this benefit they were led down the renewable energy and energy efficiency road. So, this legislaiton was for and about them, not the co-ops and cities. The cities had an effective lobbyist lobbying for a delayed participation for cities in consideration for all the energy efficiency plans they have, the small number of customers, and consideration for the debt which already burdens them disproportionately from other customers. Legislators, including sponsors, were willing and listening to giving the cities some or all of the above. Of course, the co-ops and investor owned did not care and wanted all treated same regardless. But then Jesse Tilton the CEO allowed incompetent staff at ElectriCities to enter the fray and negotiate and that is where the cities were screwed. Clay Norris, Janice Carney want the cities to be regulated and wanted this requirement, otherwise, they have nothing to do. They want regulation so they can beef up their staff and show they are worth their salaries and raises because right now they are not. Don't be fooled cities. They are working at cross purposes to you. You cities got screwed by Tilton's staff who do not pay the electric rates like you do and do not care. They simply want to make money off you. I was an observer with a non-related industry and watched this whole incompetence go down. Shame on you ElectriCities for screwing your own cities. As for the last co-op and city bill, pitiful and annoying testimony from Mike Colo of Poyner and Spruill, LLC and Estherine Davis annoyed legislators and led to the loss for the cities. If Mike Colo is ever asked to testify there again, I will be shocked since he annoyed so many of the legislators with his attitude. So, cities when you are told of this, be leary, you are told lies. Any number of witnesses can tell you the truth as to these matters. The CEO is wasting money and destroying the reputation of the cities. So when you are told you got screwed by Sen. Dole or legislators, think again, you got screwed by Tilton. The rates are going UP because of bad leadership. Plain and simple.