City Government

The City of Morganton operates by the Council-Manager form of government.

Under the Council-Manager form, power is concentrated in the elected City Council. The City Council is elected by the City residents and is responsible for setting policy and ordinances that affect the City. To implement the Councils' policies, the Council hires a City Manager who serves at the pleasure of the Council.

The City Manager serves at the pleasure of the City Council and is responsible for preparing the City budget, directing day-to-day operations and serving as the Council's chief policy advisor.

The Morganton City Council adopted the council-manager form of government in 1913, being the first in practice in the State of North Carolina; and in 1998, named its first female City Manager, Sally Sandy.

Policy formation and legislative authority are vested in the City Council which consists of a Mayor who is elected to a four-year term and four council members who are elected at large to four-year staggered terms.

The City Council meets once a month to conduct City business, enact policies and ordinances, appoint committees, and give direction to the City Manager and staff. The Council hires the City Manager and City Attorney.

The Morganton City Council holds its regular meeting on the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 305 East Union Street, Suite A100.

Meetings are open to the public and are interpreted for the hearing impaired. City Council meetings are televised live on Channel 2 on CoMPAS Cable TV and rerun throughout the following two weeks. The agenda for each monthly meeting is posted on this web site shortly before the meeting date.