The Missouri Municipal League hosts training sessions for elected officials, providing advice and training to assist us in understanding our roles in city government and to teach us what and even more importantly, what not, to do.
I recently attended this training session in Jefferson City to refresh and update my knowledge. The laws of our state change frequently, and I believe that it is important for elected officials to be as knowledgeable as possible about the position and responsibilities we have accepted.
Topics include the history and structure of Missouri municipal government. There are actually several types or designations of cities in our state, with the Missouri Revised Statutes providing the guidance for each type of city. In the case of Blue Springs, we are a home rule charter city. Cities with a home rule charter are guided by a written charter, approved by a vote of their citizens. Our Charter was adopted on April 5, 1994 and set the rules by which our city is run. You can read a copy of the Charter on the city website at http://bit.ly/BlueSpringsCharter.
Other topics taught include “Revenue Sources and the Hancock Amendment,” “Municipal Budget Process,” “The Missouri Open Meetings and Records Law,” “Parliamentary Procedures, Citizen Dialog and Conflict Resolution.” “Ethics” and “Liability and Risk.”
Exciting stuff.
The “Liability and Risk” class is very important because elected officials who do not fully understand this issue may unwittingly put our residents at risk or cause additional costs to be borne by the taxpayer. Our responsibilities also include enacting ordinances and resolutions as necessary to achieve the objectives of the city and respond to the needs of our residents.
Ministerial decisions are another responsibility of an elected official. A ministerial duty or decision can be defined as one in which a public official is required to perform under a given state of facts, in a prescribed manner, in obedience to the mandate of legal authority.
Basically, if all discretionary precursors to an official act have been completed, and all that remains to be done is the act itself, courts may compel a municipal official to perform such action. In these decisions, there is often little or no room for discretion.
For all these reasons, it is a good policy for councilmen to periodically attend these types of training sessions.
You never know what tidbit of knowledge will help save precious taxpayer dollars.