Role of an Albertville Council member

What is the Role of a Council member?

The Council members’ duties are to be performed by the council as a whole. The council, not individual members, must supervise administrative officers, formulate policies and exercise city powers. Council members should devote their official time to problems of basic policy and act as liaison between the city and the general public. Council members should be concerned, not only with the conduct of daily affairs, but also with the future development of the city.

Council members also have a number of responsibilities as an elected Official of the city:

1. The most important responsibility of a Council member is participation at council meetings. Each Council member has full authority to make and second motions, participate in discussions, and vote on every matter coming before the council.

2. Any two (2) Council members of a five (5) member council may attend special meetings (BUT only two at a time may attend due to open meeting law).

3. As individuals, Council members have no administrative authority. They cannot give orders or otherwise supervise city employees unless specially directed to do so by the council.

4. The city council is a continuing body of members – new members have no effect on the body except to change its membership. This means that all ordinances and resolutions remain in effect until the council alters or rescinds them. At any time, the council can change any ordinance, resolution, or administrative order, whether or not the individuals presently on the council are the same as those serving when the council originally took action.

5. A Council member serves and represents the city on various Boards, Commission, Committees or Task Force

6. The following list outlines other major areas of council authority and responsibility:

a. Judging the qualification and election of its own members
b. Setting and interpreting rules governing its own procedures
c. Exercising all the power of cities which the law does not delegate to others
d. Legislating for the city
e. Directing the enforcement of city ordinances
f. Appointing administrative personnel
g. Transacting city business
h. Managing the city’s financial operations
i. Appointing members of to the various boards, commission, committees or task force
j. Conducting the city’s intergovernmental affairs
k. Protecting the welfare of the city and its inhabitants
l. Providing community leadership

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