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The Nugget Newspaper
Sisters, Oregon
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The contents of the on-line edition of The Nugget represent a selection among the stories that appear in the weekly print edition.

Editorial

Approve charter changes

Sisters citizens should approve changes to the charter of the City of Sisters as proposed on the November 4 election ballot.

The two major changes involve the mayor and the position of City Manager.

The charter changes would allow the mayor to vote on issues before the council. Currently, the mayor may only cast a vote to break a tie. By allowing the mayor to vote, citizens not only allow the mayor to participate directly in decisions, they require him or her to take solid positions and be accountable for them.

The more important change creates an official position of City Manager. This requires the city council to hire professional, paid staff.

Under the current charter, the city could theoretically do away with the city administrator's position and operate the city directly.

Though that scenario is unlikely, making a professional, nonpartisan staff a requirement ensures the proper operation of an increasingly complex city and brings Sisters into compliance with accepted best practices for local government.

Jim Cornelius, Editor

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