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BSL Government Overview
Bay St. Louis Government Overview
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Excerpted from booklet on Mississippi Municipal Goverment published by the Secretary of State. Click here to access complete document.
Mississippi law classifies municipalities according to population size. Municipalities with populations of more than 2,000 are classified as cities. Places containing between 301 and 2,000 persons are considered towns. Municipalities between 100 and 300 persons are called villages.
The State no longer provides for creation of new “hamlet” entities. Municipalities change classification according to the results of each decennial U.S. Census. The city of Diamondhead in Hancock County, incorporated January 30, 2012, is Mississippi’s newest municipality.
The major function of Municipal Government is to provide services for its citizens such as maintaining roads and bridges, providing law and fire protection and furnishing health and sanitation services.
Mississippi law classifies municipalities according to population size. Municipalities with populations of more than 2,000 are classified as cities. Places containing between 301 and 2,000 persons are considered towns. Municipalities between 100 and 300 persons are called villages.
The State no longer provides for creation of new “hamlet” entities. Municipalities change classification according to the results of each decennial U.S. Census. The city of Diamondhead in Hancock County, incorporated January 30, 2012, is Mississippi’s newest municipality.
The major function of Municipal Government is to provide services for its citizens such as maintaining roads and bridges, providing law and fire protection and furnishing health and sanitation services.
Types of Municipal Governments
Excerpted from the 5th edition of Mississippi Municipal Government, published by the Mississippi State University Center for Government and Community Development. Click here to access complete document (be aware, it's a large document).
Under Mississippi’s optional charter plan, municipalities are given a choice of the basic forms of municipal government found in the United States today: (1) the weak mayor-council form (known in Mississippi as the mayor-board of aldermen form), (2) the strong mayor-council form (known in Mississippi as the mayor-council form), (3) the commission form, and (4) the council-manager form. These options, as they apply to Mississippi, are presented below in the order in which they were made available within the state.
(Editor's Note, for sake of brevity, we're posting only the one that concerns Bay St. Louis, the strong mayor-council form. To read more about the others, open the PDF link above).
The mayor-council form of government attempts to remedy the failure of the traditional mayor-board of aldermen form to clearly separate administrative and legislative duties and to concentrate responsibility for coordination of governmental activities in the mayor. The form is not a distinctly new one, however, for it differs from the mayor-board of aldermen arrangement primarily in degree. Nationally, this “strong mayor” form began its development in the last two decades of the nineteenth century, but it did not become an option for Mississippi municipalities until 1976. The mayor-council form of government was authorized by the legislature in 1973, but did not become effective until August 1976 when the U.S. Attorney General interposed no objection under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Today, the mayor-council form is employed by ten municipalities: Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, Columbus, Greenwood, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Laurel, Meridian, and Tupelo. (It should be noted that some of the information presented below is not applicable to the operation of the mayor-council form of government in Greenwood and Laurel, due to litigation altering some of the powers and functions of the mayor vis-a-vis the
council.)
Meetings of Council
The council is required to hold regular meetings on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in July following the election of council members and at least monthly thereafter on the same day (or at such other times as the council may set). Special meetings may be called at any time by either the mayor or a majority of the members of the council. At any meeting of the council, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the members elected. Where a quorum exists, a majority of the members present may adopt any motion, resolution, or ordinance, unless a greater number is specifically required. All meetings are subject to the provisions of the Open Meetings Act (Code, § 25-41-1 through § 25-41-17). This act permits closed meetings under certain
circumstances. (See Chapter V for a discussion of open meetings.)
Comments (also excerpted from the 5th edition of Mississippi Municipal Government, published by the Mississippi State University Center for Government and Community Development. Click here to access complete document )
Persons favoring the mayor-council form of government generally agree that the form has the following strengths: (1) in combination with a system of checks and balances, the executive and legislative powers of government are divided logically between the mayor and the council; (2)administrative power is not diffused as it is in the mayor-board of aldermen form, but is consolidated under a single individual who is elected at large and given sufficient appointive and removal powers to make him accountable for implementing established policy (under the council-manager form, administrative power is consolidated under an appointed individual); (3) the council can focus on major policy needs, since it is not burdened with day-to-day administration; and (4) the mayor is placed in a position to provide both strong administrative leadership and strong policy leadership.
Individuals who oppose the mayor-council arrangement usually note these weaknesses: (1) the separation of legislative and executive powers, together with a system of checks and balances, offers many opportunities for conflict and deadlock between the mayor and council; and (2) a politically strong mayor may not possess the qualities essential to a good administrator. The difficulties that result from the second weakness can be lessened, however, by the passage of an ordinance allowing the mayor to appoint a chief administrative officer.
Under Mississippi’s optional charter plan, municipalities are given a choice of the basic forms of municipal government found in the United States today: (1) the weak mayor-council form (known in Mississippi as the mayor-board of aldermen form), (2) the strong mayor-council form (known in Mississippi as the mayor-council form), (3) the commission form, and (4) the council-manager form. These options, as they apply to Mississippi, are presented below in the order in which they were made available within the state.
(Editor's Note, for sake of brevity, we're posting only the one that concerns Bay St. Louis, the strong mayor-council form. To read more about the others, open the PDF link above).
The mayor-council form of government attempts to remedy the failure of the traditional mayor-board of aldermen form to clearly separate administrative and legislative duties and to concentrate responsibility for coordination of governmental activities in the mayor. The form is not a distinctly new one, however, for it differs from the mayor-board of aldermen arrangement primarily in degree. Nationally, this “strong mayor” form began its development in the last two decades of the nineteenth century, but it did not become an option for Mississippi municipalities until 1976. The mayor-council form of government was authorized by the legislature in 1973, but did not become effective until August 1976 when the U.S. Attorney General interposed no objection under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Today, the mayor-council form is employed by ten municipalities: Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, Columbus, Greenwood, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Laurel, Meridian, and Tupelo. (It should be noted that some of the information presented below is not applicable to the operation of the mayor-council form of government in Greenwood and Laurel, due to litigation altering some of the powers and functions of the mayor vis-a-vis the
council.)
Meetings of Council
The council is required to hold regular meetings on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in July following the election of council members and at least monthly thereafter on the same day (or at such other times as the council may set). Special meetings may be called at any time by either the mayor or a majority of the members of the council. At any meeting of the council, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the members elected. Where a quorum exists, a majority of the members present may adopt any motion, resolution, or ordinance, unless a greater number is specifically required. All meetings are subject to the provisions of the Open Meetings Act (Code, § 25-41-1 through § 25-41-17). This act permits closed meetings under certain
circumstances. (See Chapter V for a discussion of open meetings.)
Comments (also excerpted from the 5th edition of Mississippi Municipal Government, published by the Mississippi State University Center for Government and Community Development. Click here to access complete document )
Persons favoring the mayor-council form of government generally agree that the form has the following strengths: (1) in combination with a system of checks and balances, the executive and legislative powers of government are divided logically between the mayor and the council; (2)administrative power is not diffused as it is in the mayor-board of aldermen form, but is consolidated under a single individual who is elected at large and given sufficient appointive and removal powers to make him accountable for implementing established policy (under the council-manager form, administrative power is consolidated under an appointed individual); (3) the council can focus on major policy needs, since it is not burdened with day-to-day administration; and (4) the mayor is placed in a position to provide both strong administrative leadership and strong policy leadership.
Individuals who oppose the mayor-council arrangement usually note these weaknesses: (1) the separation of legislative and executive powers, together with a system of checks and balances, offers many opportunities for conflict and deadlock between the mayor and council; and (2) a politically strong mayor may not possess the qualities essential to a good administrator. The difficulties that result from the second weakness can be lessened, however, by the passage of an ordinance allowing the mayor to appoint a chief administrative officer.
Job Descriptions & Salaries
Powers and Duties of the Mayor
Annual Salary: $80,376.00
Excerpted from the 5th edition of Mississippi Municipal Government, published by the Mississippi State University Center for Government and Community Development. Click here to access complete document (be aware, it's a large document).
As the possessor of the executive power of the municipality, the mayor is charged with enforcing the charter and ordinances of the municipality, as well as all applicable general laws. He is responsible for supervising all departments of municipal government and for requiring them to make an annual report and such other reports as are deemed desirable. Subject to confirmation by a majority of the council members present and voting, the mayor appoints department heads (directors) and members of any municipal board, authority, or commission.
Although department heads are protected by any civil service provisions in effect at the time a city changes to the mayor-council form, all directors appointed subsequently are excluded from civil service protection and may be removed at the mayor’s discretion. (Subordinate officers and employees of the municipality are appointed by the department heads and, with the approval of the mayor, may be dismissed by them, subject to any civil service provisions.) Where the council has made provision for a “chief administrative officer” to coordinate and direct the operations of the various departments and functions of municipal government, that officer shall be appointed by the mayor (with the advice and consent of the council) and shall be answerable
solely to him and shall serve at his pleasure.
The mayor may attend all council meetings, may take part in discussions, and may make recommendations for actions he considers to be in the public interest; but the mayor may not vote except in case of a tie on the question of filling a vacancy in the council. He must review ordinances, resolutions, orders, and other official actions of the council (excluding procedural actions governing the conduct of council meetings, appointing a clerk of the council, and exercising the council’s investigative functions). The mayor may veto ordinances of the council, but the veto may be overridden by two-thirds (⅔) of the council present and voting.
The mayor is required to maintain an office at city hall. Whenever the mayor shall be prevented from attending to the duties of office, he is required to appoint a member of the council to assume the duties of mayor (the person so appointed retains his right to vote in the council).
Annual Salary: $80,376.00
Excerpted from the 5th edition of Mississippi Municipal Government, published by the Mississippi State University Center for Government and Community Development. Click here to access complete document (be aware, it's a large document).
As the possessor of the executive power of the municipality, the mayor is charged with enforcing the charter and ordinances of the municipality, as well as all applicable general laws. He is responsible for supervising all departments of municipal government and for requiring them to make an annual report and such other reports as are deemed desirable. Subject to confirmation by a majority of the council members present and voting, the mayor appoints department heads (directors) and members of any municipal board, authority, or commission.
Although department heads are protected by any civil service provisions in effect at the time a city changes to the mayor-council form, all directors appointed subsequently are excluded from civil service protection and may be removed at the mayor’s discretion. (Subordinate officers and employees of the municipality are appointed by the department heads and, with the approval of the mayor, may be dismissed by them, subject to any civil service provisions.) Where the council has made provision for a “chief administrative officer” to coordinate and direct the operations of the various departments and functions of municipal government, that officer shall be appointed by the mayor (with the advice and consent of the council) and shall be answerable
solely to him and shall serve at his pleasure.
The mayor may attend all council meetings, may take part in discussions, and may make recommendations for actions he considers to be in the public interest; but the mayor may not vote except in case of a tie on the question of filling a vacancy in the council. He must review ordinances, resolutions, orders, and other official actions of the council (excluding procedural actions governing the conduct of council meetings, appointing a clerk of the council, and exercising the council’s investigative functions). The mayor may veto ordinances of the council, but the veto may be overridden by two-thirds (⅔) of the council present and voting.
The mayor is required to maintain an office at city hall. Whenever the mayor shall be prevented from attending to the duties of office, he is required to appoint a member of the council to assume the duties of mayor (the person so appointed retains his right to vote in the council).
Powers and Duties of Council
Annual Salary: $16,800.00; an additional $1,200 for president of council
Excerpted from the 5th edition of Mississippi Municipal Government, published by the Mississippi State University Center for Government and Community Development. Click here to access complete document (be aware, it's a large document).
In mayor-council municipalities, the council is the legislative body. It elects one (1) of its members to serve as its president and another to serve as vice president (the president, or in his absence the vice president, presides over council meetings and may vote even when presiding).In addition, it appoints a “clerk of the council” and any necessary deputy clerks to compile the minutes and records of its proceedings, its ordinances and resolutions, and to perform such duties as may be required by law.
Whenever the mayor is unable to appoint a councilman to serve as acting mayor, the council may do so.
The council may establish a department of administration and such other departments as it finds desirable; and it shall allocate and assign all administrative powers, functions, and duties (except those vested in the clerk) among and within the departments. While the mayor appoints department heads and directors, they are confirmed by the council. The council is specifically authorized to adopt an ordinance creating and setting the qualifications for a chief administrative officer to be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council. Other specific powers and duties of the council include these: setting the compensation for the mayor and councilmen (where the salary is increased, it does not become effective until the next elected mayor and
council take office); setting the salary of all municipal officers and employees; redistricting the municipality after every decennial census and after an annexation; requiring any municipal officer to prepare and submit sworn statements regarding his official duties; causing a full and complete audit of the municipality’s finances to be made at the end of the fiscal year; investigating the conduct of any municipal department, office, or agency; appropriating money for the operation of government; overriding vetoes of council actions; appointing a council member to serve as acting mayor in the event the mayor is incapacitated; calling a special election to fill a mayor’s unexpired term; and requiring all officers and employees handling public funds to give surety bond.
Except in cities with a population in excess of 190,000, council members are not required to maintain individual offices at city hall (the clerical work of members of the council are performed by municipal employees at municipal expense). Legislation authorizing mayor-council government prohibits the council from seeking to dictate or require either the appointment or removal of any employee of the municipality. Except for seeking information or advice, the council must deal with departments and employees through the mayor.
Annual Salary: $16,800.00; an additional $1,200 for president of council
Excerpted from the 5th edition of Mississippi Municipal Government, published by the Mississippi State University Center for Government and Community Development. Click here to access complete document (be aware, it's a large document).
In mayor-council municipalities, the council is the legislative body. It elects one (1) of its members to serve as its president and another to serve as vice president (the president, or in his absence the vice president, presides over council meetings and may vote even when presiding).In addition, it appoints a “clerk of the council” and any necessary deputy clerks to compile the minutes and records of its proceedings, its ordinances and resolutions, and to perform such duties as may be required by law.
Whenever the mayor is unable to appoint a councilman to serve as acting mayor, the council may do so.
The council may establish a department of administration and such other departments as it finds desirable; and it shall allocate and assign all administrative powers, functions, and duties (except those vested in the clerk) among and within the departments. While the mayor appoints department heads and directors, they are confirmed by the council. The council is specifically authorized to adopt an ordinance creating and setting the qualifications for a chief administrative officer to be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council. Other specific powers and duties of the council include these: setting the compensation for the mayor and councilmen (where the salary is increased, it does not become effective until the next elected mayor and
council take office); setting the salary of all municipal officers and employees; redistricting the municipality after every decennial census and after an annexation; requiring any municipal officer to prepare and submit sworn statements regarding his official duties; causing a full and complete audit of the municipality’s finances to be made at the end of the fiscal year; investigating the conduct of any municipal department, office, or agency; appropriating money for the operation of government; overriding vetoes of council actions; appointing a council member to serve as acting mayor in the event the mayor is incapacitated; calling a special election to fill a mayor’s unexpired term; and requiring all officers and employees handling public funds to give surety bond.
Except in cities with a population in excess of 190,000, council members are not required to maintain individual offices at city hall (the clerical work of members of the council are performed by municipal employees at municipal expense). Legislation authorizing mayor-council government prohibits the council from seeking to dictate or require either the appointment or removal of any employee of the municipality. Except for seeking information or advice, the council must deal with departments and employees through the mayor.
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Bay St. Louis, Mississippi Gulf Coast
This non-partisan site created and sponsored as a public service by volunteers working with
The Shoofly Magazine
with special thanks to our civic supporters:
The Hancock Chamber
The Sea Coast Echo
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
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