POLL: Does Harrison Need a Town Manager?

After hearing mixed reviews from surrounding communities, candidates for the town board had mixed opinions about whether or not the town/village of Harrison should consider hiring a full-time manager this fall.

In other communities, Rye for example, a city manager handles municipal operations full-time from a non-elected position. Although there are various ways to handle the position, in most cases a manger takes some power away from the mayor/supervisor and places it in the hands of a full-time employee who answers to an elected board.

A manager would allow the town some consistency while planning ahead and ensure that someone with the proper skill set is handling the town budget. Voters, however, wouldn't be able to remove this person from office every two years and hiring a manager usually adds more than $100,000 to the town payroll.

Such a move would require referendum, where voters would approve the change. Incoming Mayor/Supervisor Ron Belmont has said in the past it is something he would consider. What are your thoughts?

If you were voting today, would you support a town/village manager?