The Enfield Town Manager is the appointed chief executive of the Town of Enfield, Connecticut, hired by the Town Council to run daily government operations under the council-manager form of government established by Chapter IV of the town charter. Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-193 authorizes municipalities to vest executive power in an appointed manager rather than an elected mayor, and Enfield’s charter builds on that authority with detailed rules on who can hold the job, what the manager can and cannot do, and how the council can remove the person in it.
The council passes ordinances and sets policy. The manager carries that policy into departmental action, hires and supervises staff, and keeps services running. Because the manager stays in place regardless of election outcomes, long-running projects and institutional knowledge survive turnover on the council.
How the Council Hires the Manager
The charter sets minimum qualifications the council cannot waive. Under Chapter IV, Section 1, the manager must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in public administration or government, and must have at least five years of experience in public administration.1Town of Enfield, Connecticut. Town Charter – Chapter IV, Section 1
Candidates do not need to live in Enfield or Connecticut when appointed, which lets the council recruit nationally. Once in office, however, the manager is required to reside in town. The appointment runs for an indefinite term. The council sets the salary and may raise it at any time, but any reduction must take effect at the start of a fiscal year, and the council must vote on it at least one month in advance.1Town of Enfield, Connecticut. Town Charter – Chapter IV, Section 1
Many candidates for a position like this also hold the ICMA Credentialed Manager designation from the International City/County Management Association. That credential requires ICMA membership, an accredited degree, full-time appointed management experience, completion of a management assessment, and a commitment to at least 40 hours of professional development each year.2ICMA. ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program The credential is voluntary.
What the Manager Actually Does
Chapter IV, Section 3 of the charter gives the manager direct responsibility for every town department, agency, and office headed by someone the manager appointed. The manager supervises and directs those operations and must ensure that all town laws and ordinances are carried out.3Town of Enfield, Connecticut. Town Charter – Chapter IV, Section 3
The manager is also required to make periodic reports to the council, recommend measures the manager considers necessary, keep the council fully informed about the town’s financial condition, and prepare an annual town report after each fiscal year closes.
Hiring and Firing
Under Section 4, the manager appoints all department heads and other town officers and employees, with limited exceptions for employees in the offices of elected officials and for boards the council itself appoints.4Town of Enfield, Connecticut. Town Charter – Chapter IV, Section 4 With council approval, the manager may personally take over the duties of any office under the manager’s jurisdiction, except for town treasurer. If the treasurer is absent or unable to act, the manager can step in to countersign checks under the charter’s procedures.
The manager must also designate one appointee to serve as acting manager during any temporary absence, so there is always someone authorized to make decisions and sign documents.4Town of Enfield, Connecticut. Town Charter – Chapter IV, Section 4
Preparing the Annual Budget
Budget preparation runs on a charter-mandated schedule. Under Chapter VI, every department head must file detailed expenditure estimates and revenue projections with the manager at least 120 days before the end of the fiscal year, using forms the manager prescribes. The manager compiles these into a comprehensive budget and presents it to the council no later than 75 days before the fiscal year ends.5Town of Enfield, Connecticut. Town Charter – Chapter VI, Sections 2 and 3
The final document must include a budget message outlining the town’s financial policy, itemized revenue estimates comparing current and prior years, and itemized expenditure estimates showing each department’s actual spending, current-year projections, department requests, and the manager’s own recommendations. The assistant town managers and the finance director work with the manager over several months before the proposed budget goes to the council.6Enfield, CT – Official Website. Annual Budget
Working with the Town Council
The manager attends all council meetings with full right to participate in discussion but no right to vote.3Town of Enfield, Connecticut. Town Charter – Chapter IV, Section 3 Council agendas include a dedicated “Town Manager Report and Communications” segment where the manager and authorized staff deliver reports and provide information on agenda items.7Town of Enfield. Town Council Policy and Procedures The council sets direction and votes; the manager provides technical analysis and operational information to support those decisions.
How a Manager Can Be Removed
The manager serves at the council’s pleasure, but the removal process has fixed steps. Chapter IV, Section 1(b) requires the council to adopt a resolution stating its intention to remove the manager and the reasons for that decision at least 30 days before the proposed removal date. A copy must be served on the manager immediately.1Town of Enfield, Connecticut. Town Charter – Chapter IV, Section 1
The manager then has 10 days to demand a public hearing. If the manager requests one, removal cannot happen until the hearing is held, and the hearing must take place within 10 days of the proposed removal date. Final removal requires a majority vote of all council members, not just those present at the meeting. Once the resolution passes, the council may suspend the manager from duty, but salary continues until the official removal date, and the charter guarantees one month’s termination pay upon removal.1Town of Enfield, Connecticut. Town Charter – Chapter IV, Section 1
When the Position Is Vacant
If the position becomes vacant through resignation, death, or removal, the council may appoint an acting manager to serve at the council’s pleasure for up to 90 days. If the permanent position is still unfilled after that period, the acting manager’s term can be renewed once for an additional 90 days. That gives the council a maximum of six months to conduct a search and name a permanent manager.8Town of Enfield, Connecticut. Town Charter – Chapter IV, Section 2
Ethics Standards That Apply
Town managers who belong to ICMA are bound by its Code of Ethics, which consists of 12 tenets covering transparency, integrity, political neutrality, and stewardship of public resources.9ICMA. ICMA Code of Ethics Members in local government must follow all 12 tenets, and anyone accused of unethical conduct submits to a peer-to-peer review under ICMA’s enforcement procedures.
Several tenets shape how a manager operates in Enfield. Tenet 5 requires members to submit policy proposals to elected officials and to provide facts and professional advice rather than push personal agendas. Tenet 7 prohibits political activities that would undermine public confidence, including participation in the election of the manager’s own employing legislative body. Tenet 12 establishes that public office is a public trust and that members cannot use their position for personal gain.9ICMA. ICMA Code of Ethics Beyond ICMA obligations, Connecticut law and the town’s own ethics policies restrict managers from holding financial interests in contracts or transactions that come before the town government.