Government

Town of Palm Beach Municipal Form of Government

The Town of Palm Beach has a Council-Manager form of municipal government. This is one of two main variations of representative municipal government in the United States. The other is known as a Mayor-Council Government.  Council-Manager is used in 48.9% of American cities with populations of 2,500 or more, according to the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). (for contrast, click here to see a description of the mayor-council form of government on Wikipedia).

Under the Council-Manager form of government, the city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local ordinances, voting appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the town. Under this type of government organization, the mayor performs primarily ceremonial duties and in the Town of Palm Beach only votes when there is a tie in the council. He also has the responsibility to veto any ordinance passed by the council. The mayor has the role of being the ombudsman for the residents and is the town the representative with government organizations outside of the Town of Palm Beach.

The town council appoints a city manager to oversee the daily operations of the government and implement the policies established by the town council. The manager serves the town council.

Town Manager

The Town Manager is the chief administrative officer of the Town and is responsible for the planning, organizing, and directing of the day-to-day operation of the Town.  The Town manager appoints and supervises Town department directors, implements policies established by the Town Council, recommends actions to the Mayor and Town Council, prepares and submits the proposed annual budget and capital improvement program to the Town Council.  The Town Manager's Office also oversees the Office of Information Systems, the Risk Management Office, and the Office of Emergency Management. The portion of the budget labeled Town Manager includes expenditures for the Mayor and Town Council, administrative expenses relating to the Town Manager's Office, advice and litigation expenses for the Town attorney and outside counsel, expenditures relating to the maintenance of Town Hall, and the cost of operating and maintaining computer systems throughout the Town. 

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Town of Palm Beach
Mayor and Town Council
Terms of Office Summary 2010

• The Palm Beach Mayor and five Town Council members serve for two-year terms.

• There is no limit on the number of terms an elected official may hold office.

• Three out of the six seats (Mayor and Town Council) are filled in a general election each February.

• On February 2, 2010, a Townwide election is scheduled for the seats currently held by Council member Richard Kleid, Council President David Rosow and Council member Robert Wildrick.

• Council President David Rosow was elected in February 2008. He is serving the second year of his two-year term.

• Council member Richard Kleid was re-elected in February 2008. He is serving the second year of his two-year term.

• In February 2009, Council member Robert Wildrick was elected to fill the seat vacated by former Council member Susan Markin who resigned before her term expired.  Mr. Wildrick is serving the second year of this two-year term.

• Mayor Jack McDonald won a run-off election in February 2009.  He has a second year remaining in his two-year term.

• Council member Gail Coniglio was re-elected in February 2009.  She has a second year remaining in her two year term.

• In February 2009, Council member William Diamond was elected to fill the seat vacated by former Council member Denis Coleman who decided not to run for another term.  Mr. Diamond has a second year remaining in his two year term.
 

Town of Palm Beach
Offices Contact: council@townofpalmbeach.com

Town Manager: Peter Elwell
townmanager@townofpalmbeach.com

County Commissioner Karen Marcus: KMarcus@co.palm-beach.fl.us 
301 N. Olice Ave.
12th Floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Web: http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us

County Commissioner Priscilla A. Taylor: ptaylor@pbcgov.org
301 N. Olice Ave.
12th Floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Web: http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us

President Barack Obama (D)
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
Fax: 202-456-2461
Email: president@whitehouse.gov
Web: http://www.whitehouse.gov

Senate: http://www.senate.gov

Senator George LeMieux (R): info@lemieux.senate.gov

Senator Bill Nelson (D): http://www.billnelson.senate.gov

West Palm Beach Office
500 Australian Ave. Shite 125
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: 561-514-0189
Fax: 561-514-4078
House of Representatives: http://house.gov

Representative Ron Klein (D): http://www.house.gov/klein

Governor Charlie Crist (R): charlie.crist@myflorida.com 
The Capitol
PL-05
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Web: http://www.flgov.com

State Senator Jeff Atwater (R):  atwater.jeff.web@flsenate.gov

State Legislator Carl Domino (R):  carl.domino@myfloridahouse.gov

State Legislator Mary Brandenburg (D):  mary.brandenburg@myfloridahouse.gov