The organization of the city into operating agencies to provide
services and administer the government may be accomplished only through
an administrative order submitted to the city council by the mayor.
No administrative order may originate with the city council. The mayor
may, subject only to express prohibitions in a general law or this
charter, submit proposals to reorganize, consolidate or abolish a
city agency, in whole or in part, or to establish a new city agency
as is deemed necessary, but no function assigned by this charter to
a particular city agency may be discontinued or assigned to any other
city agency unless specified by this charter. The mayor may prepare
and submit to the city council, administrative orders that establish
operating divisions for the orderly, efficient or convenient conduct
of the business of the city. These administrative orders shall be
accompanied by a message from the mayor which explains the expected
benefits and advises the city council if an administrative order shall
require amendments, insertions, revisions, repeal or otherwise of
existing ordinances. Whenever the mayor proposes an administrative
order, the city council shall hold 1 or more public hearings on the
proposal giving notice by publication in a local newspaper, which
notice shall describe the scope of the proposal and the time and place
at which the public hearing will be held, not less than 7 nor more
than 14 days following the publication. An organization or reorganization
plan shall become effective at the expiration of 60 days following
the date the proposal is submitted to the city council unless the
city council shall, by a majority vote, within that 60 day period
vote to disapprove the plan. The city council may vote only to approve
or to disapprove the plan and may not vote to amend or to alter it.
All appointments and promotions of city officers and employees
shall be made on the basis of merit and fitness demonstrated by examination,
past performance or by other evidence of competence and suitability.
Each person appointed to fill an office or position shall be a person
especially fitted by education, training and previous work experience
to perform the duties of the office or position.
