In March of this year, Wawarsing Town Councilman John Gavaris proposed the hiring of a town manager who would "serve in a confidential and policy advisory position to the town board in connection with all town business and affairs, oversee and implement the town's personnel policies in a fair and equitable fashion in accordance with applicable law and regulations, research and provide to the town board such materials and information, including reports, as may be necessary to provide the board with information upon which it can make decisions."

The idea of a town manager was first presented to Gavaris at a seminar held by the ICMA (International City/County Management Association), a not-for-profit local government leadership and management organization, during a meeting of the Association of Towns.

The ICMA's literature states: "Under a system of local government called the council-manager form, the elected officials are the community leaders and policy makers who establish a vision for their city, town, or county, and who hire the manager to carry out policy and ensure that all residents are being equitably served."

"Under this system, more than half of the Town Supervisor's duties would be taken on by the Town Manager," says Gavaris, who adds it would not be an elected position but one hired by the Board after an exhaustive search.

But Town Clerk Jane Eck considers the plan a non-starter.

Extra, Extra The Ellenville Journal has created a new feature on its website to include information not available in its print form. To provide our readership with more information on a particular topic, the Ellenville Journal will make documents available on its website. Professional Local Government Management Town Manager Job Description Source: International City/County Management Association

"It would be expensive and tax payers are not going to give up their right to vote," says Eck.

Gavaris estimated that the full time position would cost between $80,000 and $85,000, and could be mostly funded with substantial cuts to the salaries of the town supervisor and board members, with the remainder made up by "a year-end budget surplus in the general fund."

He further suggests that a proposed joint town-village economic development officer might not need to be hired, since this role would be part of the town manager's responsibilities, adding up to long term savings by taxpayers.

Wawarsing Town Supervisor James Doloway, whose salary is approximately $41,000, argues, "Even if we create a position of Town Manager, that will not change the responsibilities of the Town Supervisor, according to State statute."

But Ellenville Village Manager Elliott Auerbach says a Wawarsing Town Manager, "would relieve the Supervisor and Town Council from the operational end of government and allow them to set policy and procedure that their manager would be charged with. The town, being a complex, multi-million dollar operation would function at a higher level with a full-time professional at the helm."

"The town manager would have a college business degree," according to Gavaris, who adds, "You wouldn't want Forrest Gump running your town, yet we currently choose who handles our town finances with a popularity contest."

Gavaris points to the success of this model of government in other parts of the State. According to the ICMA, there are ten town managers currently in New York State, with salaries ranging from $42,000 to $162,882. He notes that it is no coincidence that wealthier areas such as in Westchester County have town managers.

"I do not want to say it is the only reason, but it certainly has helped those areas," adds Gavaris.

Gavaris, who first served on Ellenville's village board, says that residents should consider Ellenville as an example of how the town could perform.

According to Auerbach, the Ellenville Village Manager acts as "the chief operating officer and administrative head of village government and is charged to implement policies as established by the mayor and board of trustees. The manager serves as budget officer, personnel officer and truly the 'go to guy' when it comes to the day to day operation of the village."

However, Dolaway argues, "The town is still growing, whereas the village is about maintaining what they have. The town manager would have more responsibility than the village manager."

Dolaway adds that he is for the idea of a town manager in principle but thinks no changes should be made until after he has completed what he calls his "8 to 10 year plan" as supervisor, which he says comes with a high learning curve, which is already being paid for by the town taxpayers.

COMMENTS about this article (18)