City of Derby

Mayor and City Council

The City of Derby operates under a mayor-council-manager form of government. This form of government combines the strong political leadership of elected officials with the strong managerial experience of a professional city manager.

The Mayor and City Council comprise the Governing Body. These elected officials are political leaders for the Derby community, and the Governing Body sets the policy for the City organization.

The Mayor is the only official of the Governing Body who is elected at-large (whole City). The Mayor presides over the City Council meetings, serves as spokesperson for the community, facilitates communication and understanding among elected officials, assists the City Council in setting goals and policies by participating in its deliberations, and serves as an ambassador and defender of the community. With the approval of the City Council, the Mayor appoints a City Manager, Municipal Judge, vacant City Council seats, and advisory board members. The Mayor also makes proclamations and serves as a key representative in intergovernmental relations.

City Council members are elected by ward. A ward covers a specific geographic area of the city. The City of Derby has 4 wards with 2 City Council members elected from each ward. (See Ward Map).

The principal job of the City Council is establishing the general policies under which the City operates. City Council members are the democratic "voice of the people" and exercise the public’s will by concentrating on issues that are responsive to the needs and the wants of the citizens.

The City Council accomplishes this by:

- Enacting ordinances and resolutions

- Approving the appointment of the City Manager, Municipal Judge, vacant City Council seats, and members of advisory boards and commissions

- Reviewing and approving the annual budget, setting the tax rate and approving the financing of City operations

- Establishing city fees and city utility rates

- Authorizing and approving contracts on behalf of the City

- Monitoring city programs and services to ensure they are being accomplished in the best possible way

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