The Citizens of Mount Vernon elect one full-time Mayor (for a four year term), who appoints the Clerk of Council and his Administrative Assistant (combined as one full-time position) and the Safety-Service Director, who is a full-time.

Police Department - The department employs a total of twenty nine individuals including both civilian employees and sworn police officers. The department is responsible for enforcing various criminal and traffic statues as well as local parking laws.

Fire Department - The department is comprised of twenty-two firefighters, seven paramedics and one executive secretary. All Fire Department services including all basic fire protection, emergency medical and rescue services are tax supported.

Engineering Department - This department has a total of five engineering personnel. They are responsible for the issuance of building permits, plan reviews for new construction and remodeling, insuring compliance with prevailing wage statutes and working with the Water and Wastewater Commission. In 1993 after two years of hard work, City Council adopted a new comprehensive Zoning Code.


Public Building and Land Department - These two departments work very closely together under the leadership of a single department head. There are a total of three full-time employees and up to five part-time or seasonal employees. The department maintain all of the City's buildings and grounds including all vacant land and park facilities.

Recreation and Pool Department - These departments employ part-time and seasonal employees only. In the summertime, thirty-five people are hired to coordinate and administer organized recreational programs in the City's two major parks and to operate the two municipal swimming pools.

Street Department - The Street Department is responsible for the on-going maintenance and improvement of the City's highways, street, alleys, storm water drainage facilities and traffic signs and signals. The department includes ten full-time employees and eight part-time or seasonal employees to help with the fall leaf pick-up program.

Cemetery Department - This department is operated with three full-time employees and six seasonal employees. The Cemetery department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the City's cemetery, as well as the sale of burial lots.

Water Department - This department operates with ten full-time employees and thirteen shared full-time employees. The shared employees also work with the Sewer Department. The Water Department is responsible for the treatment and distribution of potable water to the City's 5,707 customers and customers located in the Village of Gambier (approximately three miles east of Mount Vernon). All treatment plant employees are required to have a Class ! operators license within two years of employment.

Wastwater Department - This department operates with thirteen full-time employees and thirteen shared full-time employees as described above. The Wastwater Department is responsible for the collection and treatment of all sewerage within the City of Mount Vernon. All plant employees are required to have a Class 1 operators license within two years of employment.

The Citizens of Mount Vernon elect one full-time Auditor (for a four-year term) who appoints the staff of the Auditor's Office. There are two full-time employees, who in conjunction with the City Auditor are responsible for the accounting and financial administration functions, including recording all revenues, investing idle funds, debt service management, accounts payable processing, payroll, expenditure tracking, financial records administration, budgeting and financial reporting.

The Citizens of Mount Vernon elect one part-time Treasurer (for a four year term) who appoints the staff of Tile Income Tax Department. The Income Tax Department his three full-time employees who arc responsible for the administration and collection of the City's 1.5% earning tax. In addition, the Income Tax Department offers direct taxpayer assistance service to all residents and businesses.

The Citizens of Mount Vernon elect one part-time President of Council (for a two year term) who is responsible for conducting the council meetings and assigning committees of council. The Council appoints a Clerk of Council who is the liaison between the public, Council, and City Administration.

The Citizens of Mount Vernon elect one part-time council person from each of the four wards and three part-time council-at-large for a total of seven. Council members serve a two-year term and are elected in odd numbers years. The City Council meets on the second and fourth Monday night of each month in a public meeting, to hear proposed legislation and take action on various issues pending before the legislative body.