City Manager: Greg Burris

Description

The City Manager is responsible for the overall administration of city affairs and is essentially the CEO of the organization. This council-appointed position represents the top of the city employment structure. The position requires someone with experience in municipal administration who lives within city limits during their time as City Manager. He can take part in Council discussions, but has no voting power.

Duties Include:

• appointment and, when needed, removal of employees either directly or through department heads
• preparation of the annual budget for approval by City Council
• administration of the approved annual budget
• yearly reports to City Council about finances and administrative activities as well as ongoing advice to Council about present and future financial status or needs
• attendance at all City Council meetings and many of its committee meetings
• enforcement of all laws, ordinances, contracts, etc.

Bio

Greg Burris is the City's 12th City Manager since the current City Charter was enacted in 1953. He has served the City of Springfield since September 15, 2008.

He came to the City from Missouri State University, where he worked for 25 years and most recently served as Vice President for Administrative & Information Services. His recent areas of responsibility included: human resources; safety and transportation; facilities management, including leading the JQH Arena construction project; master planning for the campus, including coordination with City-related planning issues; energy and environmental management; and communication and computer services.

Burris holds a master’s degree in Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Missouri State.

His community service activities include serving on the boards of the Court Appointed Special Advocates, the Downtown Springfield Community Improvement District, Leadership Springfield and the Jordan Valley Advisory Committee. He also has volunteered to lead strategic planning and team-building workshops for non-profit boards and government entities including: Greene County, Urban Districts Alliance, Junior League of Springfield, the Doula Foundation, and a number of others, including Kingsway United Methodist Church, where Burris attends and plays in its contemporary praise band.

Burris and his wife, Betsy, live in Springfield with their daughter, Tori, who attends the Central High School Middle Years Scholars Program.