Staying in the Proper Lane:

Defined Roles Strengthen Montrose Government

by Michael J Badagliacco, “MJB”

The Principle of Staying in One’s Lane

Many people assume that strong performance in one role automatically qualifies someone for expanded duties. Experience shows the opposite. Most individuals and organizations perform at their highest level when they remain focused on their primary responsibilities. Anomalies exist, but they are exceptions. The principle of staying in one’s lane applies directly to local government structure.

Council’s Lane: Policy Making and Detailed Oversight

City Council occupies a specific lane defined by the Montrose Charter and the Council-Manager form of government. That lane centers on policy making and oversight. Oversight includes rigorous budgetary review. Approval of an overall budget does not fulfill the responsibility. Council must examine departmental requests, line items, and expenditures in detail to ensure alignment with community priorities and fiscal discipline. This detailed work protects taxpayer resources and maintains accountability to the voters who elected the Council.

The City Manager’s Lane: Administration and Execution

The Charter assigns the City Manager a different lane. The Manager serves as the chief administrative officer responsible for executing the policies set by Council. The Manager implements, manages daily operations, and ensures departments carry out Council direction. The Manager does not create policy, particularly on core functions such as public safety. When reporting lines place the Police Chief and City Clerk under the Manager rather than the elected Council, the structure grants an appointed administrator influence over policy areas reserved for the people’s representatives. This blurs the lanes established in the pre-2014 Charter, where the Police Chief, City Manager, City Attorney, Municipal Judge, and City Clerk reported directly to Council.

Constitutional and Charter Support for Clear Lanes

Constitutional principles reinforce these lanes. Article IV, Section 4 of the United States Constitution guarantees every state a republican form of government. In practice, this means elected representatives set direction and remain accountable to citizens. The Supremacy Clause further establishes that local structures must operate within the framework voters approved through the home rule Charter. Montrose voters established a clear division: Council makes policy; the Manager and staff execute it. Deviations from this division, such as the 2014 shift of Police Chief authority, moved policy responsibility away from elected officials and toward an unelected position.

Budget Oversight Requires Depth, Not Just Approval

Budget oversight illustrates the point clearly. Council approval of a total spending figure without departmental scrutiny fails the oversight test. Each department presents specific needs and performance data. Council has both the authority and the duty to question those requests, compare them against measurable outcomes, and adjust priorities before final adoption. This process is not micromanagement. It is the core of representative government applied to public funds.

Restoring Proper Lanes Serves the Public

Other lanes matter equally. The Police Department operates in the lane of law enforcement and public safety under policies established by Council. The City Attorney provides legal counsel within the bounds of professional ethics and Council direction. When any position steps outside its defined lane, the entire system loses focus and accountability suffers.

The current conversation about Charter amendments seeks to restore proper lanes rather than expand Council power. Returning Police Chief and City Clerk reporting to the elected body realigns the structure with the original Charter intent. It ensures that policy decisions on critical services remain with officials directly answerable to Montrose residents. The Manager retains full authority to administer operations efficiently within the policy framework Council establishes.

Staying in the proper lane produces better results. Council focuses on vision, priorities, and accountability. The Manager focuses on competent execution. Departments focus on delivering services. When these roles remain distinct, government operates with clarity, efficiency, and respect for the voters who created the structure. Montrose benefits when every participant respects the lanes the Charter and sound governance principles define.

Public discussion through open meetings allows residents to examine these alignments. Voters ultimately decide whether the current structure serves the community or requires realignment. That process itself respects the fundamental lane of citizen oversight in a republic.