by Ric Stryde
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 15/97) - It's not elected officials that run the city on a day-to-day basis. The city administrator and city clerk are the real key players in that task.

"I have the responsibility of co-ordinating all departments," said city administrator Doug Lagore. It is important, he said, that all the departments are working in sync.

"The city clerk is responsible for insuring that all the resolutions of city council are passed on to administration," said Yellowknife city clerk Brian Chambers. "I work very closely with the mayor and the administrator."

The two act as messengers who ensure that anyone, including the general public and council, who wants to know how a certain issue is proceeding, will be given the latest information.

The clerk records the minutes from council meetings, and provides facts for any kind of bylaw that council may be considering.

The clerk also reports to the administrator, who then reports to council, via the mayor.

This way the mayor and aldermen know that all of the data that they receive has been verified by at least two

sources.

The administrator has one yearly duty that is of critical important to the maintenance of the city.

"I have the overall responsibility for budget preparation and budget control," said Lagore. "It is important we stay within the budget."

When a bylaw is passed by council, it then goes to the administrator, who, along with the mayor, signs the document and then passes it on to the clerk, who keeps the official seal of the city.

When he stamps the document with the seal, it becomes law. The clerk also retains the bylaw and puts it in a fireproof safe as part of the city's permanent record.

"It's going to be a busy fall for us," said Chambers. The clerk's department is in charge of this October's municipal election. It has to take care of the enumerating and hiring of returning officers, poll clerks, and everything else that goes into running an election.

Neither the clerk nor the administrator are elected -- they are hired for the jobs.

The clerk is hired just like any other government worker would be. The administrator, on the other hand, is hired when a law is passed by city council that approves hiring a new administrator.

Both are considered permanent staff, but the administrator can be dismissed by a motion of council if they are unhappy with the work.

"I serve at the pleasure of the council," said Lagore, a 10-year veteran. "You're here as long as they want you here."

Lagore and Chambers have both said that they have no plans to run for a seat on council -- they're happy staying on the administrative side of government.

"I enjoy this side," said Lagore. "I have no desire to be a politician."

Chambers echoed that statement. "I don't have any interest in running as an elected official in the community," he said. "I enjoy my job too much.

Chambers gives credit to the politicians at city hall.

"I admire and respect the elected officials for the amount of time they put in," he said.

As for the turnover of politicians in his tenure at city hall, Chambers says, "I enjoy working with council, regardless of who's on it, I enjoy the personalities.