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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for City and Town Officials

Balance of Power Struggles in City Government

February 4, 2026  by  MRSC Insight
Category:  City and Town Officials

Hiring and firing staff, contracting authority, meeting management: these are a few areas where struggles between executive and legislative branches of city government commonly arise. How should a local government handle these?

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A voter putting their ballot into a mailbox

November 2025 Ballot Measures: Cities and Towns

December 15, 2025  by  Steve Hawley
Category:  Public Safety and Welfare ,  Annexation ,  Parks and Recreation Finance ,  Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Programs ,  Transportation Finance ,  Licensing and Regulation ,  Ballot Measures ,  Business Licenses and Taxes ,  Property Taxes ,  City and Town Officials

A large number of city/town public safety local ballot measures appeared in the 2025 November general election, alongside those for transportation and parks and rec programs. Also appearing were a few charter amendments, citizens initiatives, and advisory votes. 

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How Cities and Towns Acquire Legal Services

October 28, 2024  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  City and Town Officials

Cities and towns all need legal services for many reasons. What are the options for selecting and retaining city or town attorneys, as well as the roles of the council and the mayor or city/town manager in this process?

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Bundle of mail marked "return to sender"

Residency Requirements for Local Government Officials and Appointees

January 29, 2024  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  County Officials ,  Boards and Commissions ,  Running for Office ,  City and Town Officials ,  Elected and Appointed Officials

Must an elected official, advisory (e.g., volunteer) board member, or city or county administrator reside in the jurisdiction they serve or work for? The answer to this question depends on the position, and in some cases, local policies. 

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A women is interviewed by a panel

Hiring Staff: Roles of Mayor/Manager Versus the City/Town Council

January 16, 2024  by  Jill Dvorkin
Category:  Recruitment and Hiring ,  City and Town Officials

When hiring staff in cities or towns, what role does the council play? What role does the mayor (or manager) play? To make the best hiring decisions, the legislative and executive branches should work cooperatively and limit activities to their respective statutory roles.

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Exterior of a town hall with flag displayed

Knowing Your Roles: City and Town Governments

January 10, 2024  by  MRSC Insight
Category:  City and Town Officials

Conflicts in city and town governments between the executive and the legislative branches can be the result of confusion as to these roles and their responsibilities. In such cases, the parties should revisit how power is divided between these two branches.

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Roles and Responsibilities: Questions and Answers

April 5, 2021  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  County Officials ,  City and Town Officials ,  Elected and Appointed Officials

This blog explores frequently asked questions related to roles and responsibilities of elected officials versus local government staff.

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Who’s the Boss? Separation of Powers in Local Government

February 18, 2021  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  County Officials ,  City and Town Officials ,  Elected and Appointed Officials

This blog post discusses the importance of the roles and responsibilities of elected and appointed officials working together in local governments.

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Ten Traits of an Effective Councilmember

January 2, 2018  by  Jon Mutchler
Category:  Guest Author ,  Leadership and Management ,  Legislative Body ,  City and Town Officials

In this guest-authored blog post, Ferndale Mayor Jon Mulcher reflects on the traits he has witnessed in his career as a public servant that define truly effective councilmembers.

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Political Speech and Lobbying by Local Government Employees: What are the Rules of Engagement?

April 17, 2017  by  Oskar Rey
Category:  County Officials ,  City and Town Officials ,  Elected and Appointed Officials

Wherever you fall on the political spectrum, it is important for government employees to know the rules of engagement. While everyone has First Amendment rights, there are certain restrictions on speech and lobbying that apply to employees of local public agencies. 

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Do Public Employees Lose Their Freedom of Speech?

February 3, 2015  by  Lynn Nordby
Category:  County Officials ,  City and Town Officials ,  Elected and Appointed Officials

Many local government executives have experienced a situation where an employee says something during a public comment period or gets a letter published about a government issue in a local newspaper. Can or should an executive prevent an employee from speaking out on issues?

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