How important is it for a community to have a rov?

If a community has limited funds and can afford either a rov who can render halachic decisions or a chazan, hiring a rov takes precedence. This ruling holds true even if members of the community are not proficient in davening and need a chazan to fulfill their obligations; a rov should be hired even at the expense of the davening. Based on this idea, the Achronim stress the importance of a community rov who can guide the people to live as proper Torah Jews.

סעיף כד, ס"ק עא וביה"ל ד"ה שליח

Are city taxes income-based?

All the residents of a city must contribute to its public institutions. These communal responsibilities include building a shul, establishing a mikvah and hiring a rov. The Rishonim discuss whether the tax should be imposed equally or whether it should be income-based. Some allocations of community funds benefit all the residents equally, regardless of their income levels. Other allocations may cater to the needs of wealthier members of the congregation more than everyone else (e.g. hiring a chazan just for the Yamim Noraim, allowing the affluent to remain closer to their homes and investments).

סעיף כג, ס"ק סה ו־סו-ע; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו 75-78

Is a paid chazan better than a volunteer?

It is better to have a steady, salaried chazan than to rely on volunteers. Relying on volunteers leaves the community susceptible to having inappropriate chazanim take the amud. In addition, paid workers generally do a more professional job. Either way, the tzibur must agree with the choice of chazan. If a person makes himself chazan against the will of the tzibur, it as if he is stealing from them and they should not answer Amen to his brochos.

סעיף כב וס"ק סג; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 74

• If a chazan refuses to be motzei a specific member of the congregation in his tefillah due to feelings of animosity, he forfeits his right to be chazan and cannot be motzei anyone.

• A ba’al korei, too, should not bear any animosity towards people in the shul. If he does, the gabbai should not call the person whom the ba’al korei dislikes for an aliyah when the tochacha is being read. It is possible that the ba’al korei could intend for the curses to fall upon the oleh, which would be dangerous.

• In the year following a parent’s death, one should serve as chazan to elevate the neshamah of the deceased. Serving as chazan is an even greater elevation than saying Kaddish. 

• Can a chazan be terminated based on rumors of inappropriate behavior?

• Does a son-in-law inherit his father-in-law’s leadership positions?

• Can a person who sues in secular court be a chazan?