Geneva Mayor Jim Cecere will present a proposal Wednesday to change how the City Council oversees finances and draws on advice from residents.
The plan would have the city comptroller report directly to council, create four standing advisory committees and establish written governance procedures.
The proposal is scheduled for discussion at the Oct. 7 City Council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 47 Castle St. No vote on the modernization plan is scheduled Wednesday.
According to the agenda packet, the presentation is intended to gather questions and feedback before legislation is drafted for formal consideration.
What would change
The most consequential proposed change concerns the comptroller. The position now reports through the city manager. Under Cecere’s plan, the comptroller would report directly to council and provide an independent check on city finances. The manager would retain control and oversight of the budget process, including priorities, spending and monitoring.
The plan would also designate the manager as the city’s chief administrative officer and principal adviser to the mayor and council, while retaining the charter’s chief executive officer title where needed for state or federal purposes.
Cecere says the city would keep its council-manager form of government. The mayor would remain the council’s presiding officer and would coordinate, but not conduct, performance reviews of the manager, clerk and comptroller.
Four proposed committees would focus on finance; planning and economic development; housing; and boards and commissions. Each would have two council members and three public members. They could review issues and recommend action, but could not direct staff, approve spending or make decisions reserved for council. A proposed governance manual would set out committee procedures, appointments, reviews and reporting standards.
Questions still to resolve
The agenda packet identifies several questions raised by Acting City Manager Taylor Youngs that council has yet to settle.
They include who would supervise Finance Department staff day to day, how disagreements between the manager and comptroller would be resolved, and whether the city should assess staffing needs before advancing the plan.
Cecere also asks whether recruitment for Geneva’s next city manager should be delayed until after a vote on the proposed changes. He plans to begin forming a city manager search committee alongside the modernization discussion.
The proposal is scheduled for a first reading and formal council discussion Nov. 4, followed by a public hearing Nov. 17 and a possible final vote Dec. 2.
If adopted, the changes would be implemented in 2027. Residents can speak during public comment at Wednesday’s meeting or contact their council representatives as the proposal develops.
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