A. Purpose of the Senior Advisor Program

The program is a partnership between ICMA and state sponsors to help address the personal and professional needs of individual members. Personal support is the program's priority activity.  Assistance to governing bodies, charter commissions and community groups on the form of government is the second priority.

B.  Senior Advisor Qualifications

• Be a retired member in good standing of ICMA and the state sponsor upon appointment and while serving as a Senior Advisor.

• Have served a minimum of ten years as the appointed CAO of a local governmental jurisdiction OR if not served as a CAO, have had at least ten years’ management experience as an Assistant/Deputy CAO.

• Maintain an active phone number and email address.

• Be a resident of the state at the time of appointment.

• Be willing to actively participate in the program for the duration of the appointment.

• Affirm knowledge of and a commitment to the ICMA Senior Advisor Program Guidelines and the state sponsor’s Senior Advisor Program Policy.

C. Guidelines for Senior Advisors

• Serve as a volunteer advisor, following retirement from local government in-service employment, to support state sponsor and ICMA members, with only out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed. 

• Reach a mutual understanding with the state sponsor on the amount of time that will be available to devote to the program and what expenses will be reimbursed.

• Follow up when alerted to members in crisis and CAOs new to the state. 

• Contact all CAOs in your designated region by phone or in person on a schedule agreed upon and publicized by the state sponsor.  It is important to reach out instead of waiting to be contacted.

• Maintain membership in ICMA and with the state sponsor and advocate membership in both organizations to nonmembers.

• Maintain current knowledge about both sponsors' programs and services to help members make good use of available resources.

• Uphold the high standards as embodied in the ICMA Code of Ethics. The primary mission of Senior Advisors is to serve colleagues and to represent the profession.  Senior Advisors should avoid participating in elections at the local level and should avoid taking a stance on controversial issues unless they act in concert with the state sponsor.  Before participating in any political activity at the local, state or national level, Senior Advisors should consult with state sponsor leadership to seek their guidance and permission to proceed.

• Be sensitive to the appearance of conflict of interest in considering part-time consulting jobs.  Consult Section F of these Guidelines: Avoiding Conflicts of Interest for permissible consulting activities and contact the state sponsor for guidance.

• Submit quarterly activity reports and expense reports to the state sponsor.

• Attend the state sponsor annual meeting and any other meetings designated by the state sponsor.  Try to attend ICMA's annual conference when possible, especially when the conference is in the region.

• Maintain an active and regularly accessed e-mail address.

• If asked to provide assistance to local governments in recruitment and selection of a CAO, consult Section G of these Guidelines: Assistance to Local Governments in Recruitment of a Manager/Administrator and contact the state sponsor for guidance.