the municipal secretary desktop reference manual - Southwestern ...

for an annual report to the legislative body to review work of group and identify major
issues/topics for its consideration in near future.
Commentary
Too often, the work of boards and committees as established by the governing body does not proceed in an
orderly or serious manner. Some become non-functional and should be reorganized or abandoned. Others
function on an "as-needed" basis, such as civil service or zoning. The goal of this standard is to emphasize:
(1) the serious purpose and work of all such bodies, (2) the need for organized and systematic progress
when work is undertaken and (3) the need for regular communication with the governing body.
4. The municipality has a designated spokesperson to coordinate the dissemination of
information to the public via the media (especially in emergency circumstances).
Commentary
This standard recommends the designation of a specific individual as spokesperson to ensure effective,
consistent communication with the public on major issues and circumstances. This responsibility is
generally delegated to the manager, secretary, or administrator. In some smaller communities, the chair of
the governing body or the mayor may take on this role. Regardless of who is given this responsibility,
he/she must be readily available and accessible on a daily basis and especially during local emergencies.
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