Cities Abandoning Scranton's Form of Government

Those cities are changing their governments in favor of a council-manager format.

The city's Home Rule Charter Study Commission voted 6-5 in October to recommend that Scranton also make the switch.

However, commission member Bob Sheridan, who voted with majority two months, has indicated he wants to revisit the issue, raising the possibility the original recommendation will not stand.

Each year over the last 20 years, an average of 60 U.S. communities have adopted the council-manager structure, said William Hansell, executive director of the International City/County Management Association.

About two communities a year abandon the council-manager form, he said.

In Pennsylvania, 14 third-class cities operate with a council-manager government, compared to 19 with a strong-mayor form and 20 that operate under a commission structure, said Fred Reddig of the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

Scranton is the only class 2A city in the state. Based on its population, it normally would be considered a third-class city.

Two cities that did go through a Home Rule revision in the 1990s -- Johnstown and Altoona -- changed from strong-mayor to council-manager, Mr. Reddig said. And many boroughs and townships are moving toward that form as the complexity of government increases.

The types of government used in Pennsylvania, as defined by the International City/County Management Association, are:

Council-manager: Council is the elected governing body and hires a manager to carry out policies it establishes. Generally, there are five to nine council members, including the mayor. The mayor is either selected by council or elected by voters, depending on the city charter.

Council considers legislation, sets policy, approves budgets and determines the tax rate. The manager, who serves at the pleasure of council, is responsible for the city's day-to-day administration based on council's recommendations. The manager also prepares the budget and hires and fires personnel.

Typically, the mayor is still recognized as the political head of the municipality, but is a member of council and does not have veto powers.

Mayor-council: The type Scranton operates under parallels that of the federal government, with an elected legislature and a separately elected executive as head of city government. While the mayor's powers can vary from purely ceremonial to full-scale responsibility for day-to-day operations, Scranton's strong-mayor system more closely resembles the latter.

The mayor's duties and powers under this system generally include hiring and firing department heads, preparation and administration of the budget, and veto power over legislative acts. The legislature adopts the budget, passes legislation, audits government performance and adopts general policy provisions.

In some communities, the responsibility for day-to-day operations falls to an administrator appointed by and responsible to the mayor. Although Scranton's charter indicates that should happen here, the administrator has never really assumed those full duties.

Commission: The form is characterized by an elected governing board of three to five members who have both legislative and executive powers. It is the oldest form of government in America. The board of commissioners is responsible for adopting the budget and resolutions, and enacting ordinances and regulations. A number of other officials are also elected and serve as major department heads. The most common are sheriff, treasurer and clerk.

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