Monticello Village Managers

An historical comparison of search/hiring processes, employment contracts, salaries, benefits, severance pay, and Manager-related lawsuits.

Monticello Village Code § 45-5.  ARTICLE II. Authority of Village Manager
Editor's Note: The provisions of this article are derived from Village Law §§ 372 and 373 prior to the 1973 revision of the Village Law.
Monticello Village Code § 45-4. Delegation of authority. [Adopted 1-5-1976 by L.L. No. 1-1976 as Ch. 1, Art. V of the 1976]
The Board of Trustees may delegate any administrative function or authority it is required to perform by law, local law, ordinance or resolution to the Village Manager as in its discretion it may deem appropriate.
Monticello Village Code § 45-5. Administrative and executive powers. [Added 6-21-1999 by L.L. No. 5-1999]
The administrative and executive powers of the Village, including the power of appointment of officers and employees, except the Village Clerk, Village Attorney and Village Treasurer, are vested in an official to be known as the "Village Manager" who shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees and hold office during the pleasure of such Board; he shall receive compensation as shall be fixed by the Board of Trustees.
Monticello Village Code § 45-6. General duties of Village Manager. [Added 6-21-1999 by L.L. No. 5-1999]
The Village Manager shall be the administrative head of the Village government. He shall see that within the Village the laws of the state and ordinances, rules and bylaws of the Board of Trustees are faithfully executed. He shall attend all meetings of the Board of Trustees and recommend for adoption such measures as he shall deem expedient. He shall make reports to the Board of Trustees from time to time upon the affairs of the Village, keep the Board of Trustees fully advised of the financial condition of the Village and its future financial needs. He shall prepare and submit to the Board a tentative budget for the next fiscal year.
Monticello Village Code § 45-7. Appointment of Village officers and employees. [Added 6-21-1999 by L.L. No. 5-1999]
Such Village officers and employees as the Board of Trustees shall determine are necessary for the proper administration of the Village, except the Village Clerk, Village Attorney and Treasurer, shall be appointed by and may be removed by the Village Manager, but the Village Manager shall report each such appointment and removal to the Board of Trustees at the next meeting thereof following any such appointment or removal; the Village Clerk, Village Attorney, Village Treasurer and officers and members of the Police Department, where such a department has been established pursuant to law, shall be appointed and their salary or compensation fixed by the Board of Trustees.

NYS Village Law § 3-300(2)(a). Eligibility for election or appointment to, and continuance in office.
* * * [T]he board of trustees of a village may provide, in lieu of any other residency requirement imposed by law, that any appointed village officer may reside within a county in which the village is wholly or partially situated * * *

Zachary Kelson, Village Manager 12/14/2008 to present
04/10/2009 Monticello board divided on manager, attorney Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust (“'Zach Kelson is doing a great job! I’m sorry he won’t be with us longer. He has performed a valuable public service by giving us the time he has, at personal sacrifice. The community should thank him for stepping in during a crisis when he was desperately needed. We are now interviewing professional managers. When we have the right one, and Zach is ready to go, the time will be right. We should not rush,' said Trustee Carmen Rue.")
04/09/2009 Monticello board rejects Billig as village attorney Times Herald-Record by Ed Zwirn ("Hutchins, who voted to fire Kelson, argued that the village acted illegally in appointing him because he "does not reside within the village and therefore fails to qualify to hold office." 'The law does not require me to be a resident of Monticello,' Kelson told the Times Herald-Record. 'In the last 20 years, one village manager has resided in the village.'")
04/05/2009 Ex-officials considered for Monticello village manager spot Times Herald-Record by Ed Zwirn and Adam Bosch
03/15/2009 Erratic Monticello meeting schedule can cheat public Times Herald-Record opinionated news by Adam Bosch ("All of the meetings were properly noticed and legal.")
03/03/2009 Monticello board debates stipends, residences Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
02/02/2009 Monti board spends four hours arguing Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
01/07/2009 Zachary Kelson chosen as Monticello village manager for next six months [headline factually wrong] Times Herald-Record by Brenden Hendrickson
01/01/2009 Debate rages over new village manager Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
12/16/2008 Monticello meeting turns into shoutfest - Legality of village manager appointment not resolved Times Herald-Record opinionated news by Victor Whitman
12/15/2008 Monticello board meeting [of 12/14] might be ruled illegal [but it was not] Times Herald Record opinionated news by Adam Bosch
12/15/2008 New village manager on job today - Meeting on Monday Times Herald-Record

Mayor Gordon C. Jenkins, Acting Village Manager 12/12/2008 to 12/14/2008
12/13/2008 Monticello board calls last-minute meeting for Sunday Times Herald Record opinionated news by Adam Bosch

John L. Barbarite, Village Manager 4/7/2008 to 12/12/2008
12/13/2008 Monticello Village Board fires Village Manager Barbarite at emergency meeting Times Herald Record by Heather Yakin
12/13/2008 Monticello, NY Village Board fires Manager accused of denying permits for immigrants vosizneias.com
12/12/2008 Shake-up in Monticello Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
12/04/2008 Landlords sue, claim manager targeted ethnicity Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch
12/01/2008 Video of December 1, 2008 regular meeting of Village of Monticello Board of Trustees (Mayor Jenkins promised to cause "total chaos" if the Board of Trustees were to fire John Barbarite, based on what proved to be his faulty assumption that the board would leave the Manager position vacant and allow the position of Acting Village Manager to fall to him. Two weeks later, the Board of Trustees voted to fire Barbarite and almost immediately appointed a replacement (Zachary Kelson) in order to prevent the Mayor from causing his promised revenge - total chaos, complete abdication of civil controls, mass firings at Village Hall, and bringing Village government to a grinding halt for six months, starting tomorrow. "The only thing I can say: I'm going to say it again. This board -- this board -- this board had better think about what they're doing with John Barbarite. Because the bottom line is, tomorrow morning when we have to go, and I'm a gonna be at Village Hall. Who's going to watch the employees? Who's going to watch this Village? And that's going to be for at least six months! This Village is going to be in a total chaos. And you're all personal. And you know something? Maybe the people out here in this audience, maybe we'll give them what they want. But you know something? But I want people to see who's out there and these people that have some of our board members hostage. And it's a God-damned shame how they're being held hostage because of what's happening here. If no one can see that, then you might as well pack your bags and get out of this Village." * * * "I'm going to forewarn all of the taxpayers. you're going to have a lot of chaos, if you see John Barbarite -- Because no one is going to control this village. But you know something? But tomorrow you will see how this village will-- We're going to downsize domorrow. Let's have the vote, and we'll go from tomorrow. Let's go."
11/26/2008 Verified Complaint with Jury Demand Josif Yakubov & Aida Markisic v. John Barbarite, Sue Flora, Gordon Jenkins & The Village of Monticello EXHIBIT A | PACER
11/25/2008 Monticello debates continue Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust ("That evening [11/17/2008], Barbarite, himself was only briefly the focus of concern, with a resident asking if any progress had been made on offering him an employment contract (he currently serves at the board's pleasure, able to be fired at any time). 'We're still negotiating some things with the village manager's contract,' replied Jankins. '...I'd like to see him get a contract.' However, Schoonmaker, Marinello and Rue have previously stated their opposition to a contract.")
11/07/2008 In Monticello, meeting place changes, disputes don't - YouTube controversy Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
11/06/2008 Scheduling Order Kowalczyk, et al. v. Barbarite, et al. setting December 19, 2008 for Rule 16 Hearing before Federal Judge Kenneth M. Karas PACER
11/02/2008 Public debate forces Monticello Village Board to move meetings Times Herald Record by Adam Bosch
10/24/2008 Inadequate Room Size Of Village Of Monticello Board Of Trustees Is An Unsafe And Dangerous Condition, Threatens Public Safety opinion by Tom Rue
10/24/2008 Barbarite's fate still up in air in Village Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
10/21/2008 Village Manager survives initial move for ouster Times Herald Record by Adam Bosch
10/20/2008 Appellant's Brief 27 North St. LLC vs. Village of Monticello, et al., NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 3d Dept, to be argued 1/2009 RECORD ON APPEAL
10/15/2008 Defendants' Verified Answer (for Flora) Kowalczyk et al. v. Barbarite et al. PACER [6 DAYS LATE, IN VIOLATION OF STIPULATION ORDER]
10/14/2008 Village of Monticello still roiling Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
10/09/2008 Defendants' Verified Answer (for Barbarite, Jenkins, Village of Monticello) and Plaintiffs' EBT Notice Kowalczyk et al. v. Barbarite et al. PACER
10/06/2008 Comparing Terms Of Employment, and Performances, Of Past And Present Monticello Village Managers : What's The Emergency? opinion by Tom Rue
10/04/2008 Is Monticello's time extension in Federal lawsuit a factor in Barbarite's urgent desire for a multi-year contract? opinion by Tom Rue
10/02/2008 Letter from Kirk Orseck, Esq. outlining causes of action in ensuing lawsuit filed with the Court on 11/26/08 as Yakubov, et al. v. Barbarite, et al. [see above] PACER
09/26/2008 Monticello loses when trustees tangle Times Herald-Record editorial MINUTES | AUDIO
09/25/2008 Monticello meeting for contract vote is cut short Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch MINUTES | AUDIO
09/24/2008 Update: Monticello mayor didn't have votes to OK manager pact Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch MINUTES | AUDIO
09/24/2008 Monticello special meeting lasts seconds; no action taken Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch MINUTES | AUDIO
09/24/2008 To dodge foes, Monticello mayor calls special meeting Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch MINUTES | AUDIO
09/23/2008 Do You Remember "The People's Voice" Newsletter? Hypocrisy In Politics Is Nothing New, But Barbarite Takes It To New Depths opinion by Tom Rue
09/20/2008 Monticello street-light upgrade plans dumped Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch 09/22/2008 Proposed contract (not approved by the Board of Trustees)
Proposed terms of contract - Salary: $72,450.00 per year, severance pay if fired: One full year's salary.
09/16/2008 Stipulation Extending Defendants' Time To Answer (extending deadline to file Answer to 10/09/2008) Kowalczyk et al. v. Barbarite et al. PACER
08/19/2008 John Barbarite main focus of lawsuit Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
08/05/2008 Verified Complaint with Jury Demand Joseph Kowalczyk & Alil Pericic v. John Barbarite, Sue Flora, Gordon Jenkins and The Village of Monticello PACER
05/18/2008 Local Law No. 3 of 2008 rescinding Sections 45-16, 45-17, 45-18, and 45-19 of the Village Code eliminating position of Deputy Village Manager
04/25/2008 Battle rages over building code - Building owner disputes citations; village hires felon for prosecutions Times Herald Record by Adam Bosch
04/25/2008 On Monticello board, strife continues Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
04/21/2008 On the importance of public trust and the consequences of losing it public comment by Tom Rue to Village Board
04/11/2008 Barbarite named Monticello manager Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
04/07/2008 Resolution by Board of Trustees appointing John Barbarite as Village Manager (3 to 2 vote)
04/07/2008 Corruption as usual in Monticello statement by elected Trustee Carmen Rue to Village Board
04/07/2008 On the selection process for Monticello's next Village Manager statement by Tom Rue to Village Board
04/07/2008 Motion by Carmen Rue to "listen to public comment before the item concerning the 'appointment' of John Barbarite as Village Manager"
03/14/2008 Focus on Barbarite Sullivan County Democrat by Dan Hust
03/12/2008 Fired village official presents results of lie detector test to back his claim Times Herald-Record by Nathan Mayberg (CHECK OUT ANTIPOLYGRAPH.ORG)
03/04/2008 Village manager, ex-deputy investigated Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch
02/27/2008 Monticello fires Barbarite over alleged racial slur Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch
02/23/2007 Monticello creates new deputy manager position Times Herald Record by Simon Shifrin and Nathan Mayberg
02/29/2008 Barbarite fired, claims he was railroaded The Sullivan County Democrat By Dan Hust
01/15/2008 Village officials vote to keep Barbarite Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch
01/14/2008 Village official still on chopping block Times Herald-Record
01/12/2008 Monticello official still awaiting fate Times Herald-Record by Adam Bosch
01/02/2008 Audio Recording of SWORN TESTIMONY of Sullivan County DSS Building Inspector Vincent Meyer (John Barbarite is quoted as referring to his neighbors as "Spicks" and stating that he hopes someone dies in a fire to teach building owners to secure their premises. Barbarite called Meyer a liar, though no credible motive for perjury was ever alleged. Barbarite later claimed he "passed" a privately administered polygraph test given by a polygrapher whom Barbarite selected and paid. Polygraph tests are notoriously unreliable and, for this reason, are not admissible in court as evidence of a crime.)
02/23/2007 Monticello creates new deputy manager position Times Herald Record by Simon Shifrin and Nathan Mayberg
Terms of employment - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: $41,000.00 per year, severance pay if fired: None.
02/20/2007 Local Law No. 4 of 2007 establishing the position of Deputy Village Manager

Raymond Nargizian, Village Manager 12/18/2006 to 3/31/2008.
03/31/2008 Notice of resignation of Raymond Nargizian as Village Manager
03/25/2008 Monticello village manager resigns, citing personal issues Times Herald Record
12/18/2006 Resolution by Board of Trustees appointing Raymond Nargizian as Village Manager ("motion was made by Trustee Marinello, seconded by Trustee Schoonmaker, unanimously approved on a roll call vote")
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: started at $60,000.00, ended at $72,000.00.

Mayor James Barnicle, Acting Village Manager 08/11/2006 to 12/18/2006.
08/09/2007 Judge dismisses lawsuit against Monticello mayor Times Herald-Record
08/17/2007 Put Barnicle pay issue to bed quickly The Sullivan County Democrat opinion column by Bill Liblick
08/07/2007 Gordon Jenkins, et al. vs. James Barnicle , SUED WITH A CLAIM THAT BARNICLE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO BE PAID FOR WORK AS ACTING VILLAGE MANAGER - CASE DISMISSED.
10/17/2006 Barnicle raises hackles The Sullivan County Democrat by Nathan Mayberg. "Jenkins said he told Barnicle at the executive session that $2,000 a month was too much. “I said I would do it for free.”
Terms - Succession by law (Village Code §45-9); salary: $2,000.00 per month in addition to Mayor's stipend.

Richard M. Sush, Village Manager 01/02/2001 to 08/11/2006.
07/11/2006 Monticello manager stepping down Times Herald-Record by Victor Whitman
08/01/2004 Contract.
Terms - Salary: $60,000.00 per year, severance pay if fired: Six months salary.
10/16/2000 Resolution by Board of Trustees appointing Richard Sush as Village Manager ("motion was made by Trustee Rosenberg, seconded by Trustee Marinello, unanimously approved on a roll call vote")

Mayor Gary P. Sommers, Acting Village Manager 6/2/1998 to 10/16/2000.
06/19/2000 Report by "Management Steering Committee" on Manager form of government by David Kaufman, Harvey Smith, and Gordon Jenkins ("In conclusion, the necessity of employing a qualified, full time Manager will best serve the short and long term interests of the Village and will be advantageous to the Board, the residents and businesses of the Village.")
09/17/1999 Memorandum of Law by Village Attorney Michael Davidoff as letter to the editor letter in Sullivan County Democrat headlined, "Mayor can serve as manager"
08/22/1999 Mayor's second job raises questions Sullivan County Democrat by John Emerson
Terms - Succession by law (Village Code §45-9); $1,000.00 per month in addition to Mayor's stipend.

Joseph M. Dwyer, Village Manager 01/28/1999 to 02/19/1999.
02/09/1999 Dwyer dumps job week after starting Sullivan County Democrat by John Emerson "The Village of Monticello is once again hanging out a help wanted sign for the village manager's slot less than a week after agreeing on a contract with the new village manager." Reasons were not publicly stated, but might have been influenced by a death in his family that was noted in the Democrat's Jan. 22nd report of Mr. Dwyer's selection. (See RELATED LINK and RELATED LINK.)
01/22/1999 Monticello hires new manager Sullivan County Democrat by John Emerson
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: $49,000. Contract was apparently considered, but evidently never finalized.

Sheryl Shiber, Village Manager 8/7/1997 to 6/2/1998.
06/05/1998 Monticello manager fired Sullivan County Democrat by John Emerson
06/03/1998 Board fires Monticello manager - 'No one could work with her' Times Herald-Record by Lee Bosco (See RELATED LINK.)
08/07/1997 Cheryl Shiber is Monticello's new village manager The River Reporter by Tom Rue
08/01/1997 Contract, "This agreement has been authorized by a Resolution by the Village Board on 4th day of August, 1997 and is effective as of August 1, 1997."
Terms - Contract (above), Salary: $47,500.00, severance pay if fired: None.
"Severance" paid upon temination: 9 vacation days + 11 sick days, + 4 personal days = 24 days - 1 day used | 23 days x $182.69 = $4,201.87. Regular pay: $1,461.52.
"The following are goals for the Village Manager as set forth by the Board: (a) Recodification; (b) Develop and foster a plan for economic development; (c) Code enforcement; (d) Grant writing for the development of the village; (e) the study of consolidation of services with the town of Thompson; (f) Job descriptions and agreements with the various department heads; (g) Closing the landfill; (h) Development of an Architectural Board with the Planning Board."

CLICK THE ABOVE IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD AN ACROBAT FILE OF THESE TWO NEW YORK TIMES ADS.

George Panchyshyn, Interim Village Manager 07/15/1996 to 06/0/1998.
01/30/1997 Monticello board to seek new Village Manager The River Reporter by Tom Rue
07/26/1996 Appointment questioned - Combination Panchyshyn job under fire Times Herald Record by Alan Wechsler "...resident John Barbarite stood up and asked why the village needed a manager at all..."
07/18/1996 Panchysyn heads up Village government The River Reporter by Tom Rue
07/17/1996 Monticello Manager selected Times Herald-Record by David Figura and Maureen Petkus "...a $2,400 increase from what he's currently being paid as head of the village's public works department."
Terms - Contracted as Commissioner of Public Works; no contract as Acting Village Manager, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: $57,100.00 per year.

David P. Berner,Village Manager 10/02/1995 to 07/19/1996.
10/5/1995 Monticello hires David P. Berner as manager The River Reporter by Tom Rue
Terms - No contract, served at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: $47,000.00 per year.

Edith Schop (Clerk), Acting Village Manager ($200 per week, total $1,840) assisted by Mayor Robert Friedland (no salary beyond Mayor's stipend), 05/04/1995 to 10/02/1995.
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, $1,000.00 per month in addition to Village Clerk's salary.
"WHEREAS, Edith Schop is serving as Acting Village Manager until a permanent appointment is made by the Board of Trustees; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Monticello does hereby approve giving the Acting Village Manager $200.00 a week salary for the period of the interim appointment." (motion by Trustee Levinson, seconded by Trustee Levinson, adopted by a vote of 3 to 2 by the Board of Trustees, Trustees Cahalan and Vandermark dissenting, 8/1/1994).

William F. Cummings, Village Manager 09/19/1994 to 05/04/1995.
03/25/1996 John Barbarite & Janet Lynn v. Village of Monticello, et al. SUED TO PREVENT FORMER VILLAGE MANAGER CUMMINGS FROM RECEIVING SEVERANCE PAY - CASE DISMISSED .
05/03/1995 Is No One Qualified To Be Village Manager? Good Morning Vietnam newsletter "Now comes Mr. Barbarite who has again crawled from under the woodwork to file a lawsuit..."
05/11/1994 Cummings resigns The River Reporter by Tom Rue
10/05/1994 Village picks new money man - Ex-Wallkill Supervisor hired Times Herald-Record by Tristam Kirten
10/__/1994 Memorandum of Understanding (not approved)
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: $47,000.000. Proposed (draft) agreement asked for severance pay if fired: Two months salary.

Edith Schop (Clerk), Acting Village Manager assisted by Mayor Robert Friedland (40 hours/week, no salary in addition to Mayor's stipend), 07/14/1994 to 10/14/1994.
07/10/1995 John Barbarite, et al. v. Village of Monticello, et al. SUED TO HOLD OFFICIALS PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR PAYMENT OF A CONSULTANT TO INVESTIGATE THE MAYOR - CASE DISMISSED .
07/21/1994 Clerk gets extra work but no extra pay Times Herald-Record by Barbara Gref
07/15/1994 Village Clerk to serve as Acting Village Manager Times Herald-Record by Tom Kane
Terms - No contract, "to serve at the pleasure of the Board, efective immediately at no additional compensation".
"WHEREAS, the Village of Monticello does not presently have a Village Manager; and WHEREAS, there are documents to sign and decision [sic] to be made by a Village Manager due to the Manager form of government. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Monticello does hereby appoint Edith Schop as the Acting Village Manager in addition to continuing as Village Clerk, to serve at the pleasure of the Board, effective immediately at no additional compensation." (motion by Trustee Cahalan, seconded by Trustee Sommers, unanimously adopted by the Board of Trustees, 7/14/1994), At the same meeting, each of the five members of the Board of Trustees were assigned one or more departments over which to serve as "liaison" and to report any immediate concerns to the Village Manager.

James J. Malloy, Village Manager 1992 to 1994.
03/28/1996 Matter of John Barbarite, et al. In re. Victor Gordon, et al. v. Village of Monticello, et al., SUED TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICIALS PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR ATTORNEY FEES - CASE DISMISSED .
07/21/1994 Fired Village Manager will be paid Times Herald-Record, "The Village Board... agreed to pay former Village Manager James J. Malloy about $6,000 in [33 days] back, sick, and vacation pay..."
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: $47,500.00 per year.

Robert D. Norris, Village Manager 05/02/1988 to 04/26/1992.
05/1992 "People's Voice" article published by John Barbarite
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: started at $40,000, ended at $48,400 per year.

Nicholas P. Speranza, Village Manager 09/10/1986 to 03/06/1988.
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: started at $38,000, ended at $42,000 per year.

Harvey Smith , Village Manager 06/17/1985 to 07/04/1986.
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: started at $38,000, ended at $42,000 per year.

Louis Bernstein , Village Manager 01/06/1978 to 08/02/1985.
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: started at $21,000, ended at $32,266 per year.

Donald C. Block , Village Manager 1971 (?) to 1978 (?).

Thomas S. Belmont , Village Manager 08/02/1954 to 06/01/1971.
Terms - No contract, at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, salary: started at $6,923, ended at $14,444 per year.
Born 1923, Died 1982, Buried in Calvary Cemetery, Herkimer, New York.

Monticello's Council-Manager Government

The author of this introduction, Thomas S. Belmont, was Monticello's first Village Manager. He included this, and the accompanying organizational chart, in his first annual report to the Village Board to make clear the legislative intent of the framer's of Monticello's "council-manager" form of government, and explain how the Manager is intended to function subordinate to the Board of Trustees.

"Briefly, the main features of Council-Manager government are: a small council elected at large on a non-partisan ballot determines all municipal policies which are not set forth in a charter itself, adopts ordinances, votes appropriations and is required to appoint a chief executive officer called a Village Manager. The council is the governing body of the Village and the Village Manager is its agent in carrying out the policy which it determines. It is definitely understood that the Council deals with administration only in a formal manner through the Village Manager, and that administrative functions are at no time delegated to committees or individual members of the Council.

"The Village Manager, the head of the administrative branch, is appointed by the Council as a whole. The exercise of administrative authority is concentrated in this appointed executive who is accountable to the Council. The Manager provides the Council with information which enables it to determine municipal policies, advises the Council in matters of policy if the Council so desires, and executes the policy determined by the Council. He introduces the best principles of advanced administrative organization in practice and is held responsible for the proper coordination of all administrative activities under his direction. "Principle Duties of the Village Manager "Generally the duties of the Village Manager are:

• "To see that all laws and ordinances are enforced.
• "To exercise control over all departments and in accordance with Civil Service regulations appoint, supervise, and remove department heads and subordinate employees of the Village.
• "To make such recommendations to the Trustees concerning the affairs of the Village as may seem to him desirable.
• "To keep the Board of Trustees advised of the financial condition and future needs of the Village.
• "To prepare and submit to the Board such reports as may be required by that body.
• "To keep the public informed through reports to the Village Board regarding the operations of the Village Government.
• "To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by charter or required of him by ordinances or by resolutions of the Board of Trustees."

External Links

• Council managers are running more and more American cities From citymayors.com
• Council-manager government From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• The Story of Hickory, North Carolina As a Pioneer of the Council/Manager System

UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

NOTE: The above datea is being compiled and posted here because the Clerk and Village Hall refused to provide information to Trustee Carmen Rue which she requested in her official capacity as a Village Trustee to use and share with other members of the Board of Trustees in deliberations concerning a proposed contract for Village Manager John Barbarite. Additional details were requested from the Village Information Access Officer under the NYS Freedom of Information Act on September 27, 2008. Correction or clarification of any factual details was also requested, in the absence of which the Clerk and Village Manager were advised that the information would be presumed correct to the best of their knowledge.

Anyone is invited to send factual corrections, preferably with available documentation, to tomrue@gmail.com.