RESPONSIBILITIES OF
TOWN GOVERNMENT BY DEPARTMENT
Fiscal Year 2006
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 Secretary.
3. Legal
Division - The Office of the Town Attorney provides legal advice and
representation to the Mayor, Town 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. All ordinances are drafted or reviewed by the
Legal Division. The Legal Division
drafts or reviews all 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 a
full-time Assistant Town Attorney and a 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 and Assistant to the Town
Manager 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 designed to increase citizen awareness of
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.
3. The Budget Office is responsible for the
planning, development, evaluation and publication of the Operating and Capital
Improvements Budgets and the Capital Improvements Plan. Other responsibilities include long-term
financial planning and special projects such as 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 on receivables other than active utility
customers, bi-weekly payroll management, accounts payable, preparing the
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, assessment of internal control systems and
performing special projects in financial analysis.
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, billing and collecting from over 50,000 customers per month for water,
sewer, solid waste and other miscellaneous Town services, accepting payments
onsite for Wake County Taxes, and providing customer service. This function is accounted for in the Utility
Fund.
The
Technology Services Department (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 and staff.
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 Fire Department is to protect
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 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, keeping adequate records, and any other actions required to
adequately enforce those 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)
and 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). In the summer of calendar year 2007, the USA
Baseball National Training Facility at Thomas Brooks Park is expected to open. It includes 4 full size baseball fields
including a stadium field to complement the current 4 field softball/baseball
complex at the park.
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 five divisions with the
responsibilities listed below:
1. The Administration Division provides telephone
customer service information for Public Works and Utility functions that
directly impact
2. The Facilities Management Division provides
building maintenance for all Town facilities; landscape installations and
maintenance of Town parks, facilities, and medians; and landscaping, litter
control, and street sweeping along Town thoroughfares. Other responsibilities include leaf and
Christmas tree removal, code enforcement for safety issues along sidewalks and
intersections, oversight of
3. The Operations Division is responsible for
wastewater collection systems and maintenance, which includes sewer line
cleaning, easement maintenance, and technical support. In addition, the division is responsible for
water distribution systems including installing, replacing and maintaining
water metering devices, performing preventive and ongoing maintenance of water
hydrants, and detecting line leaks in the water lines. The division locates water, sewer and
reclaimed water system lines and appurtenances as well. They are also responsible for general
maintenance and repair of Town-maintained streets and associated storm drainage
structures, traffic signals, snow and ice removal, and inclement weather debris
removal.
4. 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; chipping limbs; emptying downtown litter
containers; the processing and disposal of debris resulting from inclement
weather; and, the operation of the
5. 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. The division is accounted for in a separate
internal service fund, and services, parts, and fuel are charged back to user
departments.
UTILITY FUND PORTION OF
PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
The
Utility Fund portion of the Public Works and Utilities Department includes the
following functions:
1. The Water Conservation Division is responsible
for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating water conservation programs
focused on peak demand reduction.
Programs also include citizen involvement activities and educational
efforts to reduce per-capita water consumption.
2. 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 designed to 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 sanitary sewer system
discharge.
3. 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 operations.
4. The North and South Cary Water Reclamation
Facilities mission is to treat wastewater generated by Cary’s and
Morrisville’s utility customers. Ongoing
efforts include the provision of preventive and corrective maintenance for the
main plant sites, a biosolids processing facility, a regional pump station, a
biosolids gravity belt thickener system and related facilities and
grounds.
5.
The Cary/Apex
Water Treatment Plant’s mission is to provide adequate clean water to the
Towns of Apex, Morrisville and Cary and other entities the Town contracts with
to provide service. The Town of