By Josh Margolis
HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – The Havre Ordinance Committee convened on Monday and took the first step in a long process that could end with the appointment of a City Manager.
The Committee voted to send a draft ordinance to the full City Council that would allow the Mayor’s position to be combined with the Finance Director Position for an interim period.
This ordinance must be approved by the City Council twice in order to be enacted.
Doug Kaercher is currently the City’s Finance Director, and will be the Mayor beginning in January, since he is the only candidate that filed.
The Ordinance Committee has discussed putting an initiative on the November 2022 ballot that would decide whether the City appoints a Manager.
“It looks like the Council is looking at moving forward towards a Manager form of government,” Kaercher said. “So I thought it might be the right opportunity right now, if you combine those two offices as I’m coming in as Mayor and I’m also the Finance Director, is to combine those two for a period of time while you put the Manager position on the ballot for people to consider. And if you do that, and that election would probably be in November (2022), you’re going to need some time then from there, probably the next fiscal year, before you actually start that. I would be happy to do that for that period of time, but only for that period of time. I’m not interested in the position (of City Manager). So if you bring a Manager on, I would step out at that point. July of 2023 I would step back if the Manager position was passed by the public. If it’s not, I would suspect as a Council, you would then want to take it back to the way it was.”
Kaercher says since the Council seems to be moving forward with the process of potentially moving to a Manager-Council form of government, it wouldn’t make sense to find a new Finance Director at this time.
“At this point in time, if you hire a new Finance Director, you have pretty well set the City into a position where you aren’t going to look at a Manager for a period of time,” Kaercher added. “And I believe, we’re now at a $20-25 million business, and you really do need to look at a Professional Manager.”
Kaercher says the City has made a few inquiries into the possible hiring of a Finance Director, but they may “not be in the ballpark salary-wise,” which is another reason they are now looking to combine that position with the Mayor.
Unlike a Mayor, City Managers are appointed by the City Council. Since the position of City Manager is not currently in the city’s charter, the change would have to be approved by voters. This would likely be on the ballot in November 2022.
“I think the timing is perfect,” Mayor Tim Solomon said. “One of the big comments we’ve heard is ‘How can we afford a Manger?’ I think this is kind of an education that we’re showing by combining this, that wage might cost a little more…but I think we’re stepping towards that, to really educate the public on how we would rearrange the budget, also.”
If Havre were to appoint a City Manager, it is unclear if there would still be a Mayor. If there were to still be a Mayor, and that position would be mostly ceremonial and would see a pay decrease.
“Let’s say you chose to have a Mayor, a ceremonial type Mayor,” Kaercher said, adding that he is hoping to retire in the next several years. “I’m fine with that, I’d serve out the term as that. But if you choose in your Charter that you’re not going to have a Mayor and you’re just going to do a Council with the Manager form (of government), I’m fine with that, too. That would be fine with me. I’ll make it work for the City because I actually believe that this is the time to do the Manager.”
A City Manager would likely be paid significantly more than a Mayor, and it would likely mean the elimination of the Finance Director position.
If the initiative goes on the ballot but is voted down, the City would continue to have a Mayor-Council form of government, and would have to search for a Finance Director.
