City Manager Accountability: Reaffirming the Call for a Formal Performance Contract

In a previously published opinion piece — available here — The Hamiltonian put forward the view that the City Manager should be subject to a formal performance contract. We recommended that such a contract include clearly negotiated, outcome-based targets and performance metrics. We also emphasized the importance of strong customer service standards as a key component of effective municipal governance, given that customer service is foundational to the public’s experience with city services.

Our position on this matter remains unchanged. We continue to assert that the introduction of a formal performance contract, as outlined in our article, would significantly enhance transparency, accountability, and good governance at City Hall.

In that context, we reached out to the Office of the Mayor with the following question:

May we get the Mayor’s thoughts on the article linked to below and whether she will consider its recommendations?
http://www.thehamiltonian.net/2025/05/statecraft-accountability-it-starts-at.html?m=1

We received the following response from Mayor Horwath’s office:

Thank you for sharing your recommendations in response to the City Manager’s May 9 responses regarding performance goals and accountability.

As noted, the City Manager’s objectives are developed in collaboration with the mayor and reflect Council-approved priorities for this term.

While there is no formal, public-facing performance contract, the approach is rooted in transparency, responsiveness, and accountability — values that Mayor Horwath continues to champion.

Your recommendations have been shared and will be considered alongside other feedback received as part of the Mayor’s Taskforce on Transparency and Accountability, surrounding ongoing discussions on governance and performance.

The Hamiltonian thanks Mayor Horwath for her response and reiterates its support for implementing a formalized performance contract as a practical and necessary tool for ensuring measurable progress and public trust.