RESPONSIBILITIES
OF TOWN GOVERNMENT BY DEPARTMENT
The
Legislative Department includes the Legislative Division, the Town Clerk
Division, and the Legal Division.
1. The Legislative Division consists of
the Town Council, which is comprised of the Mayor and six Council Members, and
is selected by the registered voters of
2. Town Clerk Division is responsible
for giving notice of Town Council meetings, preparing the Council agenda,
recording Council proceedings, serving as custodian of all permanent Town
records, keeping the Town Seal, attesting all Town documents, updating the Town
Code, keeping records of appointments and terms of the various Boards and
Commissions, and handling the sale of lots at Hillcrest Cemetery. The Town Clerk is appointed by and reports
directly to the Town Council. The Town
Clerk Division also includes one full-time Deputy Town Clerk and one full-time Administrative
Secretary II.
3. Legal Division - The Office of the
Town Attorney provides legal advice and representation to the Town, including
the Mayor, Council, and other Town officials and employees on a broad range of
issues. The Town Attorney represents the
Town in litigation filed by or against it, and provides legal opinions to the
Town Council. Ordinances are drafted or
reviewed by the Legal Division. The
Legal Division drafts, reviews as to form most contracts, leases, deeds,
franchises, bonds, and other legal documents to which the Town is a party. The Town Attorney is also involved in the
selection and management of outside counsel who represent the Town, its
officials, and employees on Town-related matters.
The Town Attorney is appointed by and
reports to the Town Council. The Legal
Department also includes one full-time Assistant Town Attorney and one
full-time Legal Assistant.
The Legal Department only represents the
Town of
The
Administration Department includes the Town Manager’s Office, the Public
Information Office
and
the Budget Office.
1.
The Town Manager’s Office includes the Town
Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Assistant to the Town
Manager and Administrative Assistant and is responsible for implementing the
Council’s policy decisions. The Town
Manager is appointed by the Town Council and is responsible for the performance
of all Town departments, as well as responding to citizen requests and
concerns.
2.
The Public Information Office develops and
executes a comprehensive communication program consistent with the
organization’s mission and goals and is designed to increase citizen awareness and
involvement in their local government.
Responsibilities include overseeing the Town’s government access channel
(CARY TV), the utility bill insert (BUD), web site content (www.townofcary.org),
media relations, advertising, and research.
The office also oversees negotiation of the cable television franchise
agreement and service regulation.
3.
The Budget Office is responsible for the
planning, development, execution, and evaluation of the Operating and Capital
Improvements Budgets and the Capital Improvements Plan. Other responsibilities include long-term
financial planning, preparing material for the Council/Staff Retreat,
publishing budget documents, and handling special projects. Special projects include the statewide
Performance Measurement Project, internal performance measurement/benchmarking
projects, operational analyses, and policy research and recommendations.
FINANCE
DEPARTMENT
The Finance Department is composed of three divisions: Accounting, Purchasing, and Utility Customer
Accounting.
1.
The purpose of the Accounting Division is to
administer the financial affairs of the Town.
This encompasses cash management, debt management, grants management, maintaining
accounting and financial records, invoicing all non-utility billed revenues,
managing delinquent collections, bi-weekly payroll management, accounts
payable, preparing the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, assessment of
internal control systems and performing special projects in financial analysis
such as monthly statistical reporting, cash flow projections, etc.
2.
The Purchasing and Warehouse Operations Division
provides centralized purchasing services for all the
departments of Town government. It is
located at the Town's
3. The Utility Customer Accounting Division
is responsible for reading water meters, turning water meters on and off,
billing over 48,000 customers per month for water, sewer, solid waste and other
miscellaneous Town services, receiving and posting of payments for utility
bills, Wake County Taxes and other miscellaneous revenues, and providing
customer service. This function is
accounted for in the Utility Fund.
The Technology Services Department (TS)
consists of the Technology Services function, the Geographic Information
Services function, and the telephone and radio systems function. TS provides installation and support for
three AS/400 minicomputers, a microcomputer network, geographic information
services, emergency radio system, phone system, paging system, voice mail,
electronic mail and the Town’s site on the World Wide Web
(www.townofcary.org). In addition, TS
provides training for all technology-related areas and develops strategic plans
to ensure that current technology is provided to Town Council, staff and
citizens.
The Human Resources Department ensures that the Town is staffed
with capable and motivated employees who can provide the highest level of
service to the citizens of
The mission of the Cary Police Department is
to protect life and property through community partnerships and the provision
of the highest level of quality professional services. The police department exists to ensure the
safety and well being of the community, its citizens, and visitors. The department accomplishes its mission by
focusing on education, prevention, investigation, and enforcement. Major components of the department include
Field Operations, Investigations, Support Services, and Professional
Standards. The department also provides
animal control, school resource, and emergency communications service for the
town and its citizens. The police
department’s community oriented problem solving philosophy is enhanced by
innovative methods, processes, and personnel. The Cary Police Department has
been internationally accredited since 1992 and contributes greatly to
The primary
mission of the Cary Fire Department is to protect and enhance the high
quality of life for the citizens and visitors of the Town of
Our goal is to
provide a model customer-oriented, fire protection program through an
innovative, proactive, and cost effective approach to emergency response, fire
code application, and public fire education.
The Engineering Department provides or
coordinates design, project management and construction administration services
for a majority of the Town’s capital improvements projects, including streets,
sidewalks, traffic signals, water distribution system projects, sanitary sewer
collection system projects, treatment plants, parking lots, buildings and
parks. Engineering also conducts studies
to address community issues related to public infrastructure problems such as
flooding, sight distance, traffic signal studies, and roadway safety, as well
as managing the new fiber optic traffic system.
Engineering is also involved in development activities including
planning for water, sanitary sewer, transportation, and stormwater
systems.
The Planning
Department handles a wide variety of long-range and day-to-day land use
planning and development functions.
Examples of long-range policy activities include preparation and
maintenance of the comprehensive plan related to land use, transportation,
affordable housing, and open space issues; managing affordable housing and
transit programs; maintaining statistics and maps; and coordinating with other
departments, agencies, and units of government.
Current planning responsibilities include processing of rezoning and
planned development district (PDD) applications; coordination of variance,
appeal, and interpretation cases; reviewing subdivision plans and site plans
for conformance with Town regulations; and maintaining, administering, and
enforcing the zoning code. The Planning
department also provides staff support to the Board of Adjustment, the Planning
and Zoning Board, and special citizen committees.
The Inspections and Permits Department is
responsible for the enforcement of State and local laws related to the
construction of buildings and other structures; the installation of such
facilities as plumbing systems, electrical systems, heating systems,
refrigeration systems, and air conditioning systems; the maintenance of
buildings and other structures in a safe, sanitary, and healthy condition;
street addressing, and other related matters specified by the Town Council.
Duties of the department include processing
applications for permits, collecting development related fees, conducting
inspections, issuing certificates of compliance, issuing orders to correct
violations, bringing judicial action against actual or threatened violations, and any other actions required
to adequately enforce State and local laws.
The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources
Department (PRCR) consists of four divisions. The primary mission of the
department is to serve, educate and enhance the quality of life for
1.
The Administration Division is responsible
for the acquisition of land and the design and development of a system of
parks, greenways, recreation facilities, and open space areas. In addition, the division is responsible for
public information and marketing, national accreditation, customer service and
staff training, grant writing, volunteer development and recognition,
coordination of citizen boards and committees, program evaluation and analysis,
and other support functions.
2.
The Recreation Programs Division provides a
wide range of recreational programs for adults, children, and senior adults
including dance, exercise, adventure, trips, confidence building, social
interaction, camps, as well as programs in ecology, environmental stewardship,
preservation, and nature appreciation for adults and youth. In addition, the division provides Town
citizens with the opportunity to rent facilities for group functions, such as
picnics, meetings, and other social occasions.
Programs and rentals are offered at Bond Park, Hemlock Bluffs Nature
Preserve,
3.
The Cultural Resources Division offers a
wide-ranging schedule of classes in dance, visual arts, music, theatre,
history, architecture, film and videography and
international cuisine to enrich the lives of Town citizens. Division staff also provides communication,
coordination, and support for Town cultural groups. In addition, special events such as Lazy Daze
and Spring Daze, the Holiday Tree Lighting, Fourth of July celebration, and
events at the Sertoma Amphitheatre are managed by
this division to provide an opportunity for Town citizens to come together as a
community to experience artistic excellence.
Applause! Cary Youth Theatre provides opportunities for area youth to
participate in two theatrical productions each year. The Town public art program is administered
through the division as well as coordination of Town exhibitions. The division also has responsibilities in
administering the Town’s Public Art Master Plan. The division oversees the operation of the
Page-Walker Arts and
4.
The Athletics Division is responsible for
planning, implementing and supervising diverse youth and adult programs and
special events. Programs and camps are
offered in basketball, softball, baseball, volleyball, tennis, soccer, cross
country and golf. The division is also
host to various special events such as the Cary Road Race as well as local,
state and national level soccer, tennis, baseball and softball
tournaments. The Town manages several
signature parks including the Cary Tennis Park (a 30-court full service tennis
facility providing instruction, camps, clinics, tournaments and league play),
SAS Soccer Park (a 150 acre facility
which includes a nationally recognized cross country course, 6 multi-purpose
soccer fields and a 7,000 seat stadium home to the Carolina Railhawks,
a United Soccer League expansion team). The USA Baseball National Training
Facility at Thomas Brooks Park opened in June 2007. It includes 4 full size baseball fields
including a stadium field to complement the current 4 field softball/baseball
complex at the park.
PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
The Public Works and
Utilities Department is divided into two major components that are funded
through the General and Utility funds.
The General Fund portion of the Public Works and Utilities Department is
composed of six divisions, and the Utility Fund portion is composed of 7
divisions. The responsibilities within
each fund are listed below.
General Fund - Public Works
The Administration
Division coordinates water resource management, long range utility
infrastructure needs, budget preparation, expenditure system control,
operations analysis, data collection and analysis, parts and supplies
procurement, report and study preparation, record-keeping, and personnel
activities. An additional key function is providing telephone customer service
information for all departmental functions that directly impact
The Facilities
Management Division is tasked with the planning and implementation of a
comprehensive maintenance and repair program for all Town buildings,
landscapes, parks, trails, rights-of-way, and cemetery. Other responsibilities
include the Town’s leaf collection program, street sweeping program, code
enforcement pertaining to overgrown properties, roadway and sidewalk
obstructions, hazard trees and related safety issues. The Division also
provides emergency response during weather events and logistical support for
all Town events.
The Operations Division
is responsible for providing utility, street maintenance and traffic operation
services for citizens, businesses and visitors to
The Solid Waste
Management Division provides curbside household garbage collection services
on a weekly basis to households and small businesses. The division is also responsible for the
collection of recyclables, yard waste, used large appliances and dead animals; code enforcement for debris and Health and
Safety related issues, emptying downtown litter containers; the
processing and disposal of debris resulting from inclement weather; and, the
operation of the Dixon Avenue Citizen Convenience Center/Transfer Station. In
addition, the division coordinates a solid waste education program to increase
citizen understanding of waste reduction/diversion opportunities, and the
development of long range disposal operations.
The Fleet Management
Division is responsible for the repair and maintenance of all Town vehicles
and equipment. Additionally, the division coordinates planned preventive
maintenance of all vehicles, provides vehicle and equipment replacement
planning for Town departments, and provides fuel for Town vehicles and
equipment. Also, the division provides
operation and maintenance cost data for all departments utilizing vehicle and
equipment assets. The division is
accounted for in a separate internal service fund, and services, parts, and
fuel are charged back to user departments.
Utility Fund - Utilities:
The Water Conservation Division is responsible
for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating water conservation programs
focused on peak and per capita reduction through education, financial
incentives and regulation. Staff also
provide educational outreach for solid waste and recycling efforts.
The Pretreatment
Division is responsible for implementing the Town’s industrial pretreatment
program, user fee program for industrial and commercial users of the sewer
system, and the Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) program that helps prevent
blockages and overflows in the sanitary collection system. The Pretreatment Division is the primary
contact for the regulatory agencies that assess the Town’s overall regulation
and control of what is discharged into the sanitary sewer collection system.
The Utility Systems
Maintenance Division provides maintenance for the water and wastewater
pumping facilities, and is also responsible for elevated water storage, odor
control, instrumentation assistance, industrial wastewater flow data, water
system flow data, and inflow/infiltration functions. This division participates in engineering
studies and related system review functions.
The North and
The Cary/Apex Water
Treatment Plant’s mission is to provide adequate clean water to the Towns
of Apex and Cary and those entities the Town contracts with to provide
service. The Town of
The Western Wake Water
Reclamation Facility’s mission is to treat wastewater generated by Cary,
Morrisville, Apex, and