Public Official
Responsibility of a Town Trustee
Buffalo has been blessed with a "Changing of the Guard". New trustees have been elected and the future of Buffalo has been put in their, uh, umm, adept competent hands. As time wanes we shall see if the antonym of adept is more applicable.
Cities or Towns in Oklahoma are usually incorporated. Buffalo is an incorporated municipality. As such, a comparison can easily be made to a standard, private incorporated company - a Corporation.
We'll compare the Corporation of Buffalo to the XYZ Corporation in this article.
When one is elected to a board of any Corporation, the responsibilities of that elected board member is to the SHAREHOLDERS of the Corporation first, and to the Corporation itself second.
The same holds true for a municipal corporation. In the XYZ Corp., a private Corporation... if the XYZ Corporation's corporate profits tumble, or there is an internal problem not satisfactorily dealt with, or if the corporation were to conduct itself improperly or illegally, or if it were to incur additional expenses such as fines or fees for its improprieties, the XYZ board members would, in most circumstances, be replaced. They would be replaced by the shareholders of the company. XYZ's Shareholders would kick 'em to the curb and recruit people of a higher level of capability or those with stronger moral fibre and abilities.
In municipal government, once more, the song remains the same - the board member would be replaced by the shareholder, except in this case, the shareholder is the taxpaying resident or citizen of the municipality.
The board member or Trustee of the XYZ private corporation is the one who answers to the Shareholder.
The board member or Trustee of a municipal corporation is the one who answers to the taxpayer or citizen.
A board member's fiduciary responsibility is to the Shareholders, the owners of the corporation. They are responsible for the corporation's profitability.
A municipal board members fiduciary responsibility is to the citizen taxpayer, the ulitimate owners of the corporation.
Major Board Member's Responsibility:
- -Provide continuity for the organization
- -Represent the organization's point of view through interpretation of its products and services, and advocate for them.
- -Select and appoint an administrator or chief executive to whom responsibility for much of the administration of the -organization is delegated.
- -Review and evaluate the administrator's performance regularly.
- -Determine and evaluate administration's relations with the board.
- -Determine level of leadership in the organization.
- -Evaluate administrator's program planning and implementation, and management of the organization and its personnel.
- -Offer guidance and determine whether to retain or dismiss the administrator.
- -Govern the organization.
- -Determine objectives.
- -Formulate policy.
- -Assign priorities and ensure the organization's capacity to carry out these priorities.
- -Continually review administration and employees jobs.
- -Acquire sufficient resources for the organization's operations.
- -Assure the ability to finance products and services adequately.
- -Account to the public for the products and services of the organization.
- -Account for expenditures of its funds.
- -Provide for fiscal accountability.
- -Approve the budget.
- -Formulate policies related to contracts from public or private resources.
- -Accept responsibility for all conditions and policies.
In a nutshell - In simpler Terms the trustee's responsibilities are:
1. Determine the Organization's Mission and Purpose
2. Select the Administrator
3. Evaluate the Administrator and Review his/her Performance
4. Ensure Effective Organizational Planning
5. Ensure Adequate Resources
6. Manage Resources Effectively
7. Determine and Monitor the Organization's Programs and Services
8. Enhance the Organization's Public Image
9. Serve as a Court of Appeal
10. Assess Its Own Performance
Oklahoma's legislature provides town trustee boards, but not individual trustees, with considerable discretion to operate a town as they deem necessary independent of direct control by administrators, town managers etc. In providing this governance structure, the legislature was attempting to keep town operations under direct citizen control via their elected and as far as possible outside the political sphere of large, encumbered government.
Town boards have extraordinary powers and responsibilities.
Power comes only because the electors of a town have given the elected such power to make decisions for them, in their best interest. The electorate, the taxpayers have given the trustee their confidence to make decisions- decisions only in the taxpayer's best interest.
Town board trustee actions are made independently of any further approval by other government bodies or officials.
There is no one above them to make any further decisions. The only accountability for their decisions comes from the people - the taxpaying residents of the town.
A BUFFALO MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL
Serving as an effective Buffalo Town Board Trustee requires dedication, knowledge and a substantial commitment in time. As a member of the municipal governing body a trustee has the opportunity to make important contributions toward shaping the future of our community. Remember, it's about shaping the future. It is not about keeping things as they are, not about status quo, not about moving backward in policies and town matters, rather, it's about THE FUTURE. It's about thinking forward, about having a vision and enough foresight to lead the Town of Buffalo into the future.
This is what the State says for those thinking of running for public office:
A Town trustee should have read and understand the Municipal Ordinances of the town.
A Town trustee should have read and understand the Statutes of Oklahoma as it relates to Municipal Officials and the laws of town government. (Section 11 - Oklahoma Statutes)
A Town trustee should always study and understand and constantly check the Oklahoma Revised Statutes regarding municipal officials and town board forms of government annually as the laws change.
A town trustee should build a relationship with the town clerk as the clerk is the conduit of information between government, the people, and the Board of trustees.
Town trustees should familiarize themselves with the requirements of Federal and State laws and qualifications for Municipal Office.
A Town trustee MUST ALWAYS be an effective community leader.
Successful elected officials must devote a significant amount of time and energy to fulfill a position that answers directly to citizens.
Some desirable leadership attributes include:
• a general understanding of municipal government
• willingness to learn about a wide range of topics
• integrity
• consistency
• confidence
• dedication to the interests of citizens and the community as a whole
• strong communication and team-building skills, including being a good listener
• openness to the thoughts and ideas of others
• being approachable and accessible
• willing to work cooperatively with others
Buffalo's town board of trustees collectively serve as the governing body for the municipality and possess all legislative powers granted by state law. Board trustees must know the law as it applies to their position and power.
The position of trustee has been compared to those of the members of the State Legislatures and the U.S. Congress. All of these positions require elected officials to represent their constituents, to make policy decisions, to budget for the execution of the policies, and to see that their policies are carried out. Unlike their counterparts in state and federal offices, however, municipal officials MUST be in direct contact with the citizens they serve on an ongoing basis.
In order to meet the responsibilities of being a municipal elected official, a trustee should consider the number of disciplines involved in becoming an effective town trustee.
Municipal elected officials share the following job titles as part of their responsibility:
• legislator
• decision-maker
• financier
• employer of municipal staff
• constructive critic
• intergovernmental participant
• public relations representative
• facilitator
Municipal elected officials should have a knowledgeable, working understanding of municipal government and the duties, authority and limitations of an elected body. per State Elections Office
Most cities and towns have advisory boards formed to make or recommend policy. Buffalo temporarily considered such a board or committee as it applies to their Capital Improvement Plan. But, they didn't like the applicants personally, even though the Mayor stated that they were very qualified and nixed the idea of public participation. The Town of Buffalo published an article on the front page of the weekly newspaper in town and asked for applications. They received 4 very qualified applicants - they decided in a public meeting that they would do it themselves - why? - Because the didn't personally like those 4 applicants. In most Towns, municipal officials, or town trustees work closely with these groups in an effort to improve their community and plan for the future. Not in Buffalo, Oklahoma. It's never been about qualifications or backgrounds, education or service, it's about who knows who and keeping things as they are - forever. That's why the Town appointed themselves as the CIP committee.
Next article: "What is a Municipality?"
