Office of the Village Administrator

The Board of Trustees, on July 13, 1987, approved legislation creating the position of Village Administrator in the Village of Buchanan. The legislation noted that the Village Administrator was established to provide the most economical and efficient overall direction, coordination and control of the day-to-day activities of the Village of Buchanan and to provide centralized direction and control of village employees. The Administrator reports to and is supervised by the Mayor and Board of Trustees.

The Village Administrator is responsible for the day-to-day operation of Village affairs and the Mayor and Board of Trustees are responsible for developing Village policy. The Village Administrator is responsible for implementing Village policy once adopted by the Board of Trustees.     

The Village Administrator is a member of ICMA - the professional organization for Local Government Managers and Professionals. The Administrator adheres to the ICMA Code of Ethics. 

Pursuant to Chapter 35 of the Code of the Village of Buchanan, the responsibilities of the Village Administrator include, but are not limited to the following:

• Oversee the enforcement of the rules, regulations, ordinances, local laws and codes of the Village so that they are administered efficiently and impartially.
• Oversee and coordinate personnel practices and the work of all Village employees, including the maintenance of personnel files, comparative wage and salary plans, safety programs, in-service training programs for both incoming and veteran employees with emphasis on incentives and employee effectiveness and consult on the recruitment and employment of key administrative employees.
• Prepare, as Budget Officer, when so designated by the Mayor, the annual operating budget according to law and, when directed by the Board of Trustees, prepare the capital projects budget.
• Be responsible for the preparation of all bid specifications and act as purchasing agent for all Village offices, departments, boards and commissions.
• Supervise and control all encumbrances, expenditures and disbursements, including the auditing of all vouchers, to ensure that budget appropriations are not exceeded.
• Keep the Board of Trustees fully informed as to the Village's financial condition and future monetary needs for operational and capital projects purposes.
• Keep the Board of Trustees and appropriate Village officials advised of pending federal, state and county legislation and of the availability of any applicable grants in aid from higher levels of government.
• Attend all meetings of the Board of Trustees unless excused by the Mayor, with the right to take part in any discussion but having no vote.
• Consult with appropriate Village officers and employees in the preparation of any resolutions, ordinances or local laws for the consideration of the Board of Trustees.
• Recommend to the Board of Trustees for adoption such measures as the Administrator may deem necessary or expedient for the health, safety or welfare of the Village residents or for the improvement of administrative services through greater productivity and economy.
• Keep the Village residents fully informed of Board policies, procedures and plans for the delivery of services and for capital projects and expeditiously respond to all inquiries of Village residents.
• Perform such other duties as may be required by resolution of the Board of Trustees.
• Have authority to direct the various department heads in the performance of their duties for the Village.
• Have sole authority over the day-to-day operations and administration of the Village unless specific instructions to the contrary are given by the Mayor and the Board of Trustees.