In a Council management form of government, who is responsible for supervising departments?

In a Council management form of government, the Manager is responsible for supervising departments. This role is crucial as it serves to implement the policies established by the elected council while ensuring the day-to-day operations of the municipality are efficiently managed. The Manager does not just oversee the departments but also coordinates between them, allocates resources, and develops a budget that reflects the council's priorities.

The Manager plays a pivotal role in facilitating communication between the council members and the various department heads, which is essential for consistent policy enforcement and operational efficiency. This arrangement allows elected officials to focus on legislative functions while leaving the management of municipal operations to a professional, freeing them from day-to-day administrative duties.

Other roles mentioned ensure specific functions within the municipal structure, but they do not encompass overall departmental oversight like the Manager does. The Mayor, for instance, may have ceremonial duties and limited executive power depending on the local charter but generally does not manage departments directly. The Administrator, while sometimes synonymous with a Manager, typically refers to lower levels of administration or specific activities rather than the overarching management role. The Public Works Director focuses specifically on public works-related functions and is not responsible for supervising all departments within the council management system.