Michigan City has made great progress and it is important that my administration and the City Council keep lines of communication open to ensure that we continue that progress. It is my goal that Michigan City government be open, transparent and available. I am pleased that our newspapers and radio stations are taking full advantage of my invitation. I believe that it is important to keep the public fully informed of the many changes that are taking place in Michigan City. My administration is equally open, transparent and available with the City Council. I have answered every phone call and every email from every City Council member, and I have honored every request for a meeting with every City Council member. When the City Council discusses a topic that is relevant to a particular department, I have made sure that representatives of that department are present and ready to answer questions.
The mayor’s role and the City Council’s roles are defined in law. According to the Indiana Code, IC 36-4-5, the function of mayor is that of the “City Executive.” It is the City Executive’s role to: “enforce ordinances, provide a statement of city finances to the council, provide information requested by the council, recommend actions to the council, supervise department heads and subordinates, insure efficient government, fill vacancies in city offices, sign bonds and contracts, and approve or veto the council’s ordinances and resolutions.”
The Common Council performs the role of the City Legislative Body, according to IC 36-4-6, the City Council exercises their powers as a legislative body, through the passage of ordinances and appropriation of money. With a majority vote, the Common Council has the authority to make ordinances and resolutions. However, as individuals, city council members do not have statutory powers.
My department heads are encouraged to talk openly and honestly with members of the City Council but at the end of the day, they report to me. Their performance is evaluated in terms of how they serve the citizens of Michigan City. A department heads’ time is a limited resource, and that time is mostly spent on the business of running and improving Michigan City. They cannot do their jobs if they are interrupted by unexpected visitors.
In any business, department heads have a schedule and it is reasonable that visitors request an appointment for a meeting. According to the IC 36-4-4, “The powers of a city are divided between the executive and legislative branches of its government. A power belonging to one branch of a city’s government may not be exercised by the other branch.” It is the role of the mayor to supervise department heads and subordinates. Individual council members have no statutory powers to supervise department heads or their subordinates, Boards and Commissions are created by state statute to help manage and have accountability in municipal Government.
Although I may disagree with the views and positions held by board members, it is not my place to micromanage these bodies. The boards serve as conduits for public input and oversight. The boards and commission operate under a majority rule model and board members and commissioners are free to agree or disagree with each other as long as they operate under the city ordinances or the state statues that created them.
Over the past year, Michigan City has made great strides. We broke ground on a new shopping center at Dunes Plaza, opened up lake views in Fedder’s Alley, the Wayfinding Signs are in progress, expanded code enforcement, began Karwick Park cleanup, began Hiring Ordinance compliance, demolished Goerg Marina, cleaned up Krueger Hill, paved Franklin Street, we extended the water down Michigan Boulevard to 600 West in anticipation of future development. We still have real issues to discuss and problems to solve but by working together we can achieve great things. It is my hope that Michigan City government, employees, and citizens will do their part to make Michigan City successful. By engaging in thoughtful discussions, with open dialogue, we will move Michigan City forward.