MATTOON - City Council members placed the decision of whether to switch to a city manager form of government in the hands of voters Tuesday.

By unanimous vote, commissioners approved an ordinance to file a citywide referendum on creating a council/city manager model of government. In the ordinance adopted Tuesday night, the city council does not "express its support for the adoption of a managerial form of government" but asks voters to cast ballots in the Nov. 4 referendum.

The effort to switch to a manager form of government started eight years ago when a group of residents called for a referendum on the issue. In the fall of 2000, city voters cast ballots on two questions concerning the commissioner form of government, although there was disagreement over whether that showed support for a city manager in Mattoon government.

But the 2000 referendum also asked residents whether they wished to maintain a commissioner form of government, and voters showed they favored the status quo.

After the 2001 elections, a newly elected council agreed to hire a city administrator and maintain city commissioners as a compromise. A city administrator has duties similar to that of a city manager, but the manager position can be abolished only by a voter referendum. A council can eliminate the administrator position by majority vote.

The council's decision Tuesday night, supported by Mayor David Cline and commissioners Joe McKenzie, Rick Hall, Randy Ervin and David Schilling, was based on a recommendation from the Mattoon Form of Government Advisory Committee.

Robert Webb, chairman of the 11-member body, said a city manager could concentrate on administration, while council members could dedicate more time to policy and long-term planning. A city commission, on the other hand, has elected members with both administrative and policymaking roles.

During a public hearing, Robert Coyne argued the council should delay a vote on filing a referendum because a city manager government is not in the best interests of the community. He also contended the summary of the 2000 vote is misrepresented because the final vote eliminated the option to switch to a city manager.

"The city manager form was not applicable unless the commission form of government was eliminated," Coyne said.

Though city officials agreed the last ballot vote produced a confusing result, they said it did not rule out the need to resolve the issue.

Herb Meeker can be reached at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.