Is Annapolis Prime for a New Government Style? SPEAK OUT

Annapolis currently has a mayor-council form of government but some residents question whether that's the right style for the city. We'd like to know what you think.

The way Annapolis conducts business with an elected mayor and a separately elected council with legislative powers "is found mostly in older, larger cities, or in very small cities," according to the National League of Cities. This is the second most common form of local government.

The most common style of municipal government places the bulk of the power in the hands of the city council and a city manager with increased authority over a traditional mayor. Surveys by the International City/County Management Association cited by the National League of Cities indicate this form of government is increasing in popularity: growing in cities from 48 to 55 percent between the years of 1996 and 2006.

The current city manager of Annapolis is mostly an administrative role that includes overseeing daily operations as well as personnel issues and "advising the mayor and the City Council in the formation of policy and the implementation of plans," according to the city's website.

A shift to a council-manager style of government would make the city manager report directly to the council—and not the mayor.

TELL US: Which form of government do you think is best for Annapolis: council-manager or mayor-council (existing)? Leave a comment to let us know.