On the surface, it is difficult to see why Healy isn't popular.

During his 18-year term as city manager, he consolidated the city's debt, streamlined the payroll without firing employees, and, along with city finance director James D. Maloney, helped to make Cambridge one of the best-run cities in the nation.

The council hasn't had much direct input about how the city is managed. It appoints the city manager and passes broad resolutions, but Healy writes the city's regulations. He is the de-facto head of public works, of public safety and of city financing.

But his successes are also a reason why Healy has stirred resentment on the council.

Triantafillou, a long-time councillor, has said that Healy's performance as manager has ignored the city's economically disadvantaged, and she wants the council to adopt more of a role in policy formation.

For example, she proposed to make the city's planning board, which in many instances has final say on zoning issues, accountable to the council instead of the city manager.

Critics charge that doing this would make the planning board more responsive to political winds, which tend to overtly favor liberal causes.