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H~ o~~r Ong y ~ hers ~ ~ ~~rn er
<br />~'he fallowing items axe taken tom the Colorado Municipal league, andboal~ far Municipal
<br />elected C~fcials, and is reprinted from the league of ~nsas Municipalities' bxochure,
<br />"Suggestions for Successfexl public Service"
<br />Gove~~ing is clearly more of a~n art than a science. 'T'here axe no ultimate answers on how to
<br />govern; different approaches axe to be expected, and pxobably desired. however, thexe do seem.
<br />to be some fundamentals, ~'he suggestions that follow xange from practical, cammo~. sense
<br />fundamentals to those Hoots p~ilasophic and theoretical. 'T'hese tips far successful and effective
<br />public se~rice are intended to assist mayors, council members, and board trastees, while most
<br />suggestions relate to individual o~'~cers o~.ers apply to the gaverni~ng body as a wk~ole, ~`hese
<br />two application, however, are interdependent m the capacity of a governing body to govern
<br />effectively is dependent on the collective capacities of at least a naa~axity of its nxembers~p,
<br />'these suggestions are not ~. any priority order, and Hat all are universally accepted, A,11 of them,
<br />however, are worth Consideration. by anyone who would set~ve the public through an elective
<br />local office,
<br />I , ~ea~~n all you can about your city, its history, its operation, its financing. ~o your
<br />home~ror~, ~n.ow your city ordinances. ]dust off your comprehensive plan.
<br />2. devote sufficient tone to your ai'~ce and to s~.dying the present and futuxe
<br />problems of your Cannaaunlty,
<br />3, l~on.'t bum yourself out on the little things but recognize that they are often
<br />i.~portant to the public, Save same energy -and time w fax the impa~~ant matters.
<br />~&, I~o~'t act as a committee of one; governing a city requires team e~'ort ~ practically
<br />and legally,
<br />5. don't lit honest differences of opinion within the governing body degenerate into
<br />personality conflicts,
<br />~, ~.enaembe~~ that you represent ail ~e people of your community, not just
<br />neighbors and friends. ~e wary of personal experiences coloring your public
<br />decisions,
<br />~, ~'al~e your budget preparation jab seriously, for it determia~es what your city does
<br />or does not do for the Doming year and will also influence what happens ~. futuxe
<br />years,
<br />~, establish policy statements. written policy statements let the public, and the city
<br />staff, laa.ow where they stand. they help the governing body govern, and writing
<br />thew provides a process to develop consensus,
<br />9. Make decision on the basis of public policy, and be consistent, 'Treat similar
<br />situa~o;ns similarly, and avoid favoritism.
<br />1 ~. pacus your' attention on ways to p~•event problems, rather than just ring to solve
<br />them as they occur, pilling potholes is one approach to governing; developing
<br />plans to prevent them is more important,
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