Comments on: City Election Likely Jan. 16 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2006/207/ Helping imagine a great college town for a great university Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:30:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Shawn Magnuson http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2006/207/comment-page-1/#comment-1161 Shawn Magnuson Tue, 28 Nov 2006 04:42:16 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2006/207/#comment-1161 Thanks for the excellent response. I expected a number like that, but it's still interesting. Taking an average of 40 hours a month, this means that a council member makes about $9/hour and would earn $17,600 a year if the job were full time. The people on the city council must really care because they're not there to get rich! :) What are the most common reasons people run for city council and like their jobs once they're there? Also, what are the term lengths of city council members? 1 or 2 years? It seems like an interesting position and a satisfying way to give back to one's hometown. Thanks for the excellent response.

I expected a number like that, but it’s still interesting. Taking an average of 40 hours a month, this means that a council member makes about $9/hour and would earn $17,600 a year if the job were full time. The people on the city council must really care because they’re not there to get rich! :)

What are the most common reasons people run for city council and like their jobs once they’re there? Also, what are the term lengths of city council members? 1 or 2 years?

It seems like an interesting position and a satisfying way to give back to one’s hometown.

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]]> By: Robert Catlin http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2006/207/comment-page-1/#comment-1157 Robert Catlin Mon, 27 Nov 2006 04:45:46 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2006/207/#comment-1157 The salary is $4,400/year. The Council has four Tuesday evening regular meetings to attend a month. Council members are expected to also attend a variety of other meetings in the evening. Perhaps 3-6 other meetings a month. Trips can take you to Annapolis, Upper Marlboro, or Washington, DC or sometimes out of the local region. The time commitment is about 30 -50 hours a month, though you can easily put in a lot more if you are doing research on an issue. Each of the four districts have about 6,000-7,000 residents. The City Council sets city policy, talks to other municipal officials, and talks (lobbies) County and State elected officials. Most importantly, the City Council sets the tax rate and determines how the City spends about $10,000,000. The City Council hires a City Manager to carry out the day-to-day operation of the City. The salary is $4,400/year. The Council has four Tuesday evening regular meetings to attend a month. Council members are expected to also attend a variety of other meetings in the evening. Perhaps 3-6 other meetings a month.

Trips can take you to Annapolis, Upper Marlboro, or Washington, DC or sometimes out of the local region.

The time commitment is about 30 -50 hours a month, though you can easily put in a lot more if you are doing research on an issue.

Each of the four districts have about 6,000-7,000 residents.

The City Council sets city policy, talks to other municipal officials, and talks (lobbies) County and State elected officials. Most importantly, the City Council sets the tax rate and determines how the City spends about $10,000,000.

The City Council hires a City Manager to carry out the day-to-day operation of the City.

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]]> By: Shawn Magnuson http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2006/207/comment-page-1/#comment-1149 Shawn Magnuson Sun, 26 Nov 2006 23:06:00 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2006/207/#comment-1149 Congratulations on your announcement David. Just for my own edification, what are the duties and responsibilities of a City Council member and is it a paid, part-time position? How many of the meetings and sessions on the calendar ( http://www.ci.college-park.md.us/calendar.htm ) is a council member supposed to attend? How much "take-home" work/research is involved? What is the hours-per-month commitment involved? How many constituents would you represent? I think the city council is a great way (and one of the only ways) that a student can get experience with elected office and civic work. Good luck! Congratulations on your announcement David. Just for my own edification, what are the duties and responsibilities of a City Council member and is it a paid, part-time position?

How many of the meetings and sessions on the calendar ( http://www.ci.college-park.md.us/calendar.htm ) is a council member supposed to attend? How much “take-home” work/research is involved? What is the hours-per-month commitment involved? How many constituents would you represent?

I think the city council is a great way (and one of the only ways) that a student can get experience with elected office and civic work. Good luck!

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