Government Structure

Overview of the City of Rochester's Government Structure

Elected and Management Staff


Mayor: The Mayor is elected by his/her fellow Councilmembers for a one-year term and is responsible for running the Council meetings and representing the City as its Chief Elected Official. The Mayor has no administrative responsibilities, but rather acts as the political leader of the community in developing policy positions. This is a part-time position and the pay is nominal.

Mayor Pro Tem: The Mayor Pro Tem is is elected by his/her fellow Councilmembers for a one-year term and is responsible for running the Council meetings and representing the City in the absence of the Mayor. This is a part-time position and the pay is nominal.

City Council Member: The remaining five City Council Members have the title of “City Council Member.” They act along with the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem in developing policy positions for the City and taking action on agenda items during their public meetings. This is a part-time position and the pay is nominal.

City Manager: The City Manager is appointed by the City Council to serve as the Chief Administrative Officer of the City. It is the responsibility of the City Manager to carry-out the policies formulated by City Council. The City Manager is responsible for the supervision and management of all services of the City, including the enforcement of the City Code, Charter and applicable laws of the State.

Deputy City Manager/Director of Community & Economic Development: This position is the second-highest administrative position in the City Administration and is directly under the City Manager, assisting in the execution of duties and responsibilities set forth in the City Charter. This position is also assigned direct responsibility for supervising the operation of Economic Development, Code Compliance, Building and Zoning. He/she also attends all City Council and various other public meetings and makes presentations for governmental agencies and private groups as assigned.

Public Relations Specialist: Under the direction of the City Manager, coordinates the activities within the City Manager’s office, including scheduling, information dissemination, recordkeeping and customer service, assists in coordinating the activities of the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and City Council, prepares and organizes numerous correspondences to residents and community groups and manages the day-to-day office-related items.  This position is responsible for managing resident concerns and City-wide communications, administrative work providing support to the City Manager, and assisting with coordinating communications and programming.

Finance Director/Treasurer: Under the general direction of the City Council and administratively responsible to the City Manager, plans and directs the various financial activities of the Finance Department, implementing and maintaining the control expenditure accounting system for the City. Directs and coordinates activities of department divisions which include Treasury, Assessing and Accounting. Reviews the financial activities of other departments regarding budget preparation and subsequent control, debt management, investments, internal auditing and all associated reporting.

Assistant Finance Director:  Info being updated.

City Clerk: Under the general direction of the City Council and administratively responsible to the City Manager, directs and supervises all administrative aspects of the City Clerk’s office. Plans, assigns and supervises the work of a staff involved in elections, code compliance records, cemetery records, official City records and maintains various City files and public records. Plans and directs all matters relating to elections including the registration of voter’s petitions, division of precincts, absentee ballots and various inspections.

Deputy City Clerk:  Info being updated.

Police Chief: Under the direction of the City Manager, coordinates and directs all police functions of the City, supervises directly through subordinate officers, and is responsible for the oversight functions of the department including patrol and traffic safety, detective staff, drug task force, dispatching services, record keeping, crime prevention and school liaison officers.

Fire Chief: Under the direction of the City Manager, coordinates and directs all emergency and non-emergency operations and activities of the City’s Fire Department. Supervises directly and through subordinate officers a staff of paid on-call volunteers and contracted employees engaged in firefighting, fire prevention, emergency medical services, code compliance and maintenance of equipment, buildings and grounds.

Director of Public Works: Under the general direction of the City Manager, manages the activities of the streets, parks, refuse/recycling, cemetery and water/sewer operations. Develops programs and policies to deliver public services, determines staffing levels and represents the City to other governmental entities and the general public.

Assistant Director of Public Works:  Info being updated.

Downtown Development Authority Executive Director: Under the supervision of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Board, manages the activities of the DDA, including the development of programs and policies with the board to carry-out the mission of the DDA. Also responsible for the administration of the Principal Shopping District under the direction of the PSD board to execute events and promotions.