Timothy J Clifton City Manager Woodstock IL

The City Manager's authority is stated in section 5/5-3-7 of the Illinois Municipal Code. What he may and may not do in relation to the mayor and council and the administration of the city government is stated in the above section.

1. Enforcing laws and ordinance. 65 ILCS 5/5-3-7(1). He is responsible for the efficient enforcement of nuisance, traffic and regulatory ordinances through the police department; for enforcing building codes through the building department and enforcing zoning and land use regulations through the zoning administrator and zoning board of appeals or plan commission. He has the responsibility for all of this enforcement activity.
2. Appointing and removing all departmental directors based upon merit and fitness. 65 ILCS 5/5-3-7(2). This means he has the authority to hire and fire all department heads. In essence it means he controls who gets hired or fired in all departments and divisions of the city. 65 ILCS 5/5-3.7(3). This authority includes the power to appoint and remove the chief of police. Every other department head and appointees serve at the pleasure of the city manager and city manager serves at the pleasure of the city council. It is obvious that the manager shall not discriminate illegally in hiring and firing decisions; in that sense he is not above the law or legal actions if alleged hiring or firings are proven to be illegal or discriminatory.
3. Controlling all municipal departments and divisons thereof. 65 ILCS 5/5-3-7(3)
4. Appointing and removing all appointive officers of a municipality formerly under the aldermanic form of government. 65 ILCS 5/5-3-7(4).
5. Exercising all powers otherwise granted to clerks and comptrollers in connection with the preparation of an annual report of estimated funds. 65 ILCS 5/5-3-7(5). In other words he, the city manager, is responsible for all the finanacial data needed to be seen by the Mayor and City Council. By using this power he has further control over department heads because he controls the budget that determines the departments finances.
6. The City Manager is the only individual that has the right to attend and participate in council meetings. 65 ILCS 5/5-3-7(6). Obviosly this places him in an important position because in many cases he is the only source of information and interpretation of specific problems or situations that may arise by which the City Council may make decisions.
7. He has the right to recommend legislative action. 65 ILCS 5/5-3-7(7).
8. Performing and executing any other duties prescribed by the City Council. 65 ILCS 5/5-3-7(8). He generally cannot create new offices or positions, incur any expenditures or enter into any contracts, as these are legislative and delegative functions left to the City Council. With authorization of the City Council he may however do so.

I have sat on many boards of directors over the last 35 years and usually we would routinely evaluate the individual who was acting as the equivalet to the City Manager at 6 month intervals; I hope and trust that the Woodstock City Council is doing the same. Remember what President Ronald Reagan said "trust but verify".