Rock Hall’s next Mayor should:
- Understand that “Mayor and Council” describes town’s “board of directors,” with the Town Manager as the “chief operating officer”; Mayor chairs Council meetings and performs other duties as specified in Town Charter, but is otherwise “first among equals.”
- Conduct weekly open-door sessions to meet with constituents.
- ASAP after taking office, meet with each town employee to ask for (1) suggestions for improvements for running the town; and (2) suggestions to save town money.
- Evaluate the Town Manager annually.
- Chair and conduct Town Council meetings efficiently; have agenda posted on Web site at least three days in advance and stick to it; don’t permit extraneous comments during meetings; always have public comment at the end of meeting; appoint a parliamentarian.
- Have a “Mayor’s Corner” feature on town Web site; question-and-answer format.
- With Town Manager, ensure that clerical functions in town offices are computerized as much as possible; invite a survey, review of present procedures by county’s IT director with eye toward computerizing as many processes as possible.
- With Town Manager and Clerk-Treasurer, review budget and spending monthly; propose budget modifications to Council as needed.
- Ensure competence and impartiality by members of town boards; review resumes of sitting members and develop policies and procedures—including written qualifications—for each of these appointments.
- Review policies, procedures, budgets, finances, etc., for special events sponsored by local and out-of-town organizations to ensure these activities are financially self-sustaining, are covered by sufficient liability insurance, and are a benefit to the town; require organizations to apply for a permit for any event; set rates as appropriate for use of town police, other town employees, town property (streets, beach, civic center), equipment.
- Review all contracts, policies, agreements, warranties, etc., pertaining to town operations and infrastructure.
- Review town’s police budget, operations, and equipment and recommend necessary changes, including budget increase, to bring town police in line with other jurisdictions.
- Ensure that tram operation is financially self-sufficient; consider turning tram over to GRHBA or form a new non-profit group specifically for this purpose.
- Ensure that annual budget process is carried out per Charter requirements.
- Ask Planning Commission to review Comprehensive Plan and zoning ordinance to identify and resolve any conflicts between two documents.
- Keep current Web site focus group operational.
- Consider having Museum Board become a non-profit organization independent of town government, with its own budget and fundraising program; town would then contract with this group to manage town museum artifacts and operate museum.
- Consider appointing a “Harbor Master” to work with marinas, marine businesses, and boaters resolving marine-related problems and questions as they occur; possibly operate a “welcome patrol” for pleasure boats in summer months; a volunteer to start.
- Consider forming a “Public Safety” committee to work with town police and other officials on questions related to public safety and good order in Rock Hall.
- Consider forming a “Welcome Committee” to greet and orient new residents and new property owners; such a committee might also organize tours of the town; possibly an activity for Museum Board, or GRHBA, or Garden Club.
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