City governments in Kentucky operate under one of three models:
City Manager
Commission
Mayor-Council
City of Frankfort's City Manager
Frankfort operates under a City Manager form of government.
In the City Manager form of government cities elect a mayor, but the mayor serves, participates and votes as a member of the City Commission. Four commissioners are also elected and one mayor, all of whom constitute the Board of Commissioners.
City Manager Form of Government Diagram (PDF)
Appointment
The Board of Commissioners appoints a City Manager who acts as the chief administrative officer for the city.
Duties
This individual is a professional who is employed by the city to run the operational affairs of the city on a day-to-day basis.
Over half of the second and third class cities in Kentucky are governed by the City Manager form of government.