Will Nelson eliminate the office of mayor? Councilman Duane Cronic brought the topic up for discussion at the June third meeting.

“Have we moved passed the mayor position to a council-manager form of government?”

Cronic asked. In 2011, council amended the city charter to eliminate some duties of mayor, such as overseeing personnel and other components of the strong mayor system. As a result, the amendment shifted certain authorities previously held by mayor to city council. This left the mayor with the authority to see that all ordinances were enforced and executed, conduct meetings and offer input to council. Cronic said he was told by former mayor David Leister Nelson’s governmental structure was not a functioning system. Following the 2011 amendment, council then adopted a city manager position, which was given to City Clerk Brandy Edwards. The primary duty of the manager position is to oversee the day-to-day administration and operation of the city. Specifically, this means Edwards has authority to make certain decisions without council approval. Also, the shift further transferred some mayoral duties to the manger position. The move gave the mayor even less to do. Based on the current charter, Cronic said the mayor has no voice.

Nelson Resident Bill McNiff lauded the notion.

“Neither mayor has worked with the city council—ever,”

he said.

“And people outside of the city think the mayor has authority he doesn’t have. That creates a problem at the county level and probably the state level.”

He went on to say that by shifting authority to council and eliminating the mayor’s office, everybody knows the council runs the city and knows that if the public has a proposal or comment it comes through the city manager or council.

However, Resident Steve Minon, who lives on the Cherokee side of Nelson, suggested the city proceed with caution.

“To me,”

Minon said,

“the mayor is a representative of the city. And he or she has a function of doing a lot of things but with the grace of the council.”

He said council and mayor must work together. Minon went so far as to recommend a revolving mayor, where each council member would serve as mayor a month at a time. He also highlighted city manager duties, asking rhetorically if, with all the added responsibilities, city manager should be an elected position. The comment addresses accountability. Although unsaid, Minon’s comment suggests that the city manager position is not subject to constituents and, as such cannot be held accountable by voters.

Notably, the discussion followed council’s decision to wait until the general election in November to elect a mayor, saving the city and taxpayers an additional four thousand dollars. On May fourteenth, Mike Haviland abruptly resigned as Nelson’s mayor after holding the office less than six months, currently leaving the town without a mayor.

Council did not make any decision regarding elimination of the position Monday night, but City Attorney Jeff Rushbridge said the move would require legal action in the state legislature. The move may also still require a mayoral election, where the winner may serve at least one term before the change is made.