One of the flaws in our current mayor-council form of government is poor supervision of staff and all of the consequences resulting from that. We elected a mayor who is a hard-working person but who doesn’t have the unique skills necessary to supervise staff to meet normal requirements or have the experience necessary to run a complex government operation with impartiality or fiscal responsibility.

There are no checks and balances in the current system where the mayor can subvert the council by directing staff according to her choices and propensities versus council’s decisions.  

Public records are so seriously difficult to access that it’s become an issue of Washington state notice. Council members themselves can’t get financial reports – or accurate financial reports, and the city attorney is too swamped with lawsuits to tend to smaller issues. We can’t expect good decisions if our council members aren’t given accurate information.  

The city’s mayoral election process may take a peek at candidate’s credentials but it’s unlikely that any specifically qualified candidate lives here. Candidates only need to live on Bainbridge and have enough money and connections to run, not that there couldn’t be an educable person. But a professional city manager is already trained in fiscal management, council administration, legal requirements, community services, contemporary practices, interpretation of ordinances and more.

Unless the hiring procedure is badly botched, a skilled individual who is not enmeshed in local favoritism is almost assured.

I’ve lived and worked in well-run cities with city managers. Based on my experience with this city government and all I have observed and read, I believe our city deserves the protections and benefits of a change to a council-manager form of government.

Amy Aspell

Bainbridge Island