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1. How does the City of Carbondale operate?

The City of Carbondale is a Council-Manager form of government. The legislative body is comprised of the Mayor and six Council members who are elected at-large. The legislative body establishes the policies for the City. Once policies are set by the Mayor and Council, it is the job of the City Manager and his staff to implement these policies as the executive body. The City Manager is selected by the Mayor and Council and is responsible for hiring all of the City department directors.

2. How are the Mayor and the Council Members elected?

The Mayor and Council are elected by voters at-large. Elections occur every four years and the Mayor and Council members serve four-year terms. There are no term limits for these elected officials.

3. What are the duties of the Mayor?

The Mayor has several duties as the top elected official for the City of Carbondale. Some of these duties are official and other duties are ceremonial.

• Assists citizens with problems, concerns and information requests
• Presides over City Council meetings and vote on issues that come before the City Council for consideration
• Initiates community-wide action regarding important issues
• Communicates and works with other policy-making bodies to ensure that Carbondale's concerns are heard at state and national levels
• Delivers the annual "State of the City Address"
• Appoints members of boards and commissions with consent of the Council
• Along with the City Council, appoints the City Manager
• Promotes the City of Carbondale as the City of Carbondale's ambassador to visitors, dignitaries, conferences and annual community events
• Participates in lectures, summits, ribbon cuttings, ground breakings, speaking engagements, business tours and school visits throughout the community
• Issues proclamations, letters, certificates and awards for special occasions
  
  

4. What are the duties of the City Council?

• Enacts ordinances and sets policies
• Approves the City budget and Community Investment Program(CIP)
• Holds bi-monthly Council meetings to address issues and concerns in the community
• Serves on boards and commissions

5. When does the City Council meet?

The City Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month in the Council Chambers, Civic Center, Room 108, 200 S. Illinois Avenue.