Local Government

Suppose you want to build a fence. Or get married. Either way, you’re going to need paperwork.

To whom can you complain about these ballooning property taxes? And, while you’re at it, somebody really should look into putting a stop sign at that intersection around the block.

With each and every one of those queries, you’ll eventually end up at the same place: your local government.

While national issues tend to dominate our airwaves and algorithms, most of the decisions that affect your daily life are made close to home. The Fredericksburg Free Press’s Local Government 101 is meant to provide you with the concepts, definitions and specifics needed to make informed decisions and participate more fully in your com-munity.

So, what is Local Government?

Local government is the term for the government of a smaller area that is a subdivision of a greater political area. These include counties, towns and cities like Fredericksburg. Local governments are charged with day-to-day policymaking with the interests of the communities they serve in mind.

Robert’s Rules of Order

All localities in our region (The City of Fredericksburg, Stafford and Spotsylvania Counties) follow Robert’s Rules of Order. The objective of Robert’s Rules of Order are the standard (or, at least it should be) rules of morality for conducting meetings, including how to make motions, debate and vote.

When it comes to meeting structure, Robert’s Rules are commenced by being called to order, old business being addressed, followed by new business and then, voting. When motions are made, a member must propose it, a second member must agree by seconding the motion, then leading to a debate and vote. A majority of two-thirds is needed to pass a motion. To vote, the use of voice, hands, and ballots is acceptable.

Forms of local government:

Council-Manager: A council-manager form of government combines the political power of an elected governing body — the City Council and the Mayor (together, “City Council”) — with the managerial expertise of a City Manager that governs the City. Together, the City Manager and the City Council are responsible for identifying, plan-ning, and executing the City’s goals.

The City Manager hires and fires city staff, prepares the city’s budget for city council approval, negotiates contracts on behalf of the city, and carries out policies put in place by city council. As the administrative head of the city, the city Manager is responsible for the administration of all city services and all city personnel report to the city manager.