Parkersburg Mayor Bob Newell, in his city charter-stipulated
last term in office, has suggested city government change to a
council-manager form, instead of its current strong mayor-
council form. According to Reference.com, "a city manager is an
official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a
council-manager form of city government. Called the chief
administrative officer in some municipalities. "Originating in
Staunton, Va., in 1908 during the Progressive Era, the city
manager form of government was created to remove city government
from the power of the political parties, and place management of
the city into the hands of an outside expert who was usually a
business manager or engineer, with the hope that the city
manager would remain neutral to city politics. "Typical roles
and responsibilities of a city manager include: supervising day-
to-day operations of all city departments, supervising the
department heads; preparing a draft city budget each year with
options the council votes on; res