<P> In a technical sense, the term "city manager," as opposed to CAO, implies more discretion and independent authority that is set forth in a charter or some other body of codified law, as opposed to duties being assigned on a varying basis by a single superior such as a mayor . </P> <P> Most sources trace the first city manager to Staunton, Virginia in 1908 . Some of the other cities that were among the first to employ a manager were Sumter, South Carolina (1912) and Dayton, Ohio (1914); Dayton was featured in the national media, and became a national standard . The first "City Manager's Association" meeting of eight city managers was in December 1914 . The city manager, operating under the council - manager government form, was created in part to remove city government from the power of the political parties, and place management of the city into the hands of an outside expert who was usually a business manager or engineer, with the expectation that the city manager would remain neutral to city politics . By 1930 200 American cities used a city manager form of government . </P> <P> As the top appointed official in the city, the city manager is typically responsible for most if not all of the day - to - day administrative operations of the municipality, in addition to other expectations . </P> <P> Some of the basic roles, responsibilities, and powers of a city manager include: </P>

What are the duties of the city manager