City of Lancaster, WI Chapter 80 Officers and Employees

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Lancaster 8-15-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-06 as §§ 1.01 to 1.17 of the 2005 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Boards, commissions and committees — See Ch. 8.

Ethics — See Ch. 27.

Mayor and Council — See Ch. 67.

Article I General Provisions

§ 80-1 Elected officials.

A. Enumerated. Elected officials of the City shall be a Mayor, one Alderperson from each Aldermanic district, and four at-large Alderpersons.

B. Eligibility. No person shall be eligible for elective office who is not at the time of election an elector of the City and, in case of election for the seat from an Aldermanic district, a resident of the district in which he is running and, in the case of election for an at-large Aldermanic seat, a resident of the City.

C. Terms. The Mayor shall be elected for a two-year term. Alderpersons shall be elected for a two-year term, with two Alderpersons from the Aldermanic districts and two at-large Alderpersons being elected each year.

§ 80-2 Appointed officials.

[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]

Appointed officials of the City shall be selected as follows:

Official	How Appointed	Term
Assessor	Common Council	1 year
Attorney	Common Council	1 year
Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator	Common Council	1 year
City Administrator	Common Council	By agreement
Clerk/Treasurer	Common Council	Indefinite
Director of Public Works	Common Council	Indefinite
Fire Chief	Police and Fire Commission	Indefinite
Police Chief	Police and Fire Commission	Indefinite

§ 80-3 Oaths and bonds.

Elected and appointed officials shall take and file the official oath within 10 days after notice of their election or appointment as provided in § 62.09, Wis. Stats., and shall execute and file the official bond as required by state statutes and this Municipal Code.

§ 80-4 Removals.

A. Elected officials. Elected officials may be removed as provided in § 17.12(1)(a) or 17.16, Wis. Stats.

B. Appointed officials. Appointed officials may be removed as provided in §§ 17.12(1)(c) and (d) and 17.16, Wis. Stats.

§ 80-5 Vacancies.

A. How occurring. Vacancies in elective and appointive positions are caused as provided in §§ 17.03 and 17.035, Wis. Stats.

B. How filled. Vacancies in elective and appointive offices shall be filled as provided in § 17.23, Wis. Stats.

§ 80-6 Salaries.

The salaries of all elected and appointed officials, including members of boards and commissions, shall be as determined by the Common Council from time to time, provided the salary of the Mayor and members of the Council shall not be increased during their terms of office. (See § 66.0505, Wis. Stats.)

§ 80-7 Receipt of gifts and gratuities.

See Chapter 27, Ethics, of this Code.

Article II Officials

§ 80-8 Mayor and Alderpersons.

A. Election and term. See § 80-1 of this chapter.

B. Powers and duties.

(1) Mayor. See § 62.09(8), Wis. Stats.

(2) Council. The Mayor and Alderpersons shall constitute the Common Council and shall have such powers and duties as are enumerated in Ch. 62, Wis. Stats., and elsewhere in the statutes. See also Chapter 67, Mayor and Council, of this Code.

C. Authority. The Common Council shall have all powers of the City not specifically given to some other body or officer. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Common Council shall have the management and control of the City property, finances, highways, streets, utilities and the public service, may act for the government and good order of the City, for its commercial benefit, and for the health, safety, welfare and convenience of the public and may carry its powers into effect by license, regulation, suppression, borrowing, taxation, special assessment, appropriation, imposition of forfeitures and other necessary and lawful means. The Common Council may appoint such officials from time to time as may be deemed necessary for the benefit of the community. In addition, the Common Council shall have the powers enumerated in § 62.11(5), Wis. Stats. The powers hereby conferred shall be in addition to all other grants and shall be limited only by express language.

§ 80-9 City Clerk/Treasurer.

The City Clerk/Treasurer shall have jurisdiction, authority, control, supervision, and direction over all City-related artifacts, memorabilia, and property of historic value. Said City Clerk/Treasurer shall be knowledgeable in the history of the City of Lancaster and shall keep records of all property under its charge. The offices of City Clerk and City Treasurer shall be combined into one full-time office and such official shall also perform the duties of Comptroller. All provisions of § 62.09(9), (10), and (11), Wis. Stats., shall apply.

§ 80-10 Assessor.

A. Appointment and term. See § 80-2 of this chapter.

B. Applicable statute. See § 73.09, Wis. Stats.

C. Powers and duties.

(1) See §§ 70.12, 70.13, 70.17, 70.18, 70.19, 70.23, 70.29, 70.30, 70.32, 70.34, 70.345, 70.35, 70.365, 70.43, 70.44, 70.45, 70.48, 70.49, 70.50, 70.501 and 70.503, Wis. Stats., in particular.

(2) The Assessor shall perform such other duties as shall be prescribed by state law and the Common Council.

§ 80-11 Fire Chief.

A. Appointment and term. See § 80-2 of this chapter.

B. Powers and duties. See Chapter 39, Fire Department, of this Code.

C. To act as fire inspector. See Chapter 39, Fire Department, of this Code.

§ 80-12 Director of Public Works.

A. Appointment and term. See § 80-2 of this chapter.

B. Powers and duties. The Director of Public Works shall perform all supervisory and administrative functions and duties as they relate to public works.

C. Public works. Public works, as used herein, shall include street maintenance and construction and other street related activities; stormwater drainage; water and wastewater utilities; landfill operations; City collection and disposal of solid waste, including the supervision of outside solid waste contracts; cemetery operations and the maintenance related services of parks and the golf course.

D. Director of Public Works. The Director of Public Works shall have jurisdiction, authority, control, supervision and direction over all trees, plants and shrubs planted or growing in or upon the public highways and public places of the City and the planting, removal, care, maintenance and protection thereof. The Director of Public Works shall have knowledge of tree and shrub species and pests that infest them. He/she shall be knowledgeable in the care of trees and shrubs and know the proper techniques for planting, pruning and spraying.

E. Powers and duties. The Director of Public Works shall have the right to plant, trim, spray, preserve and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the lines of all streets, alleys, avenues, lanes, squares and public grounds as may be necessary to ensure safety or preserve the symmetry and beauty of such public grounds.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Original § 1.15, Emergency Government Director, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05.

§ 80-13 Other appointed officials.

A. Manner of appointment. All officials not declared elective, including the Common Council representative, and all other officials necessary for the proper management of the City, except City employees, shall, unless otherwise provided, be appointed by the Mayor subject to confirmation by the Council and shall hold office for a term of one year and until their successors are fully appointed and qualified.

[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]

B. Rejection of appointments. An appointee by the Mayor required to be confirmed by the Council who is rejected by the Council shall be ineligible for appointment to the same office for one year thereafter.

§ 80-14 City Administrator.

A. Office of the City Administrator. In order to provide the City of Lancaster with a more efficient, effective and responsible government under a part-time Mayor and part-time Common Council (hereinafter referred to as "Council") at a time when City government is becoming increasingly complex, there has been created the Office of City Administrator for the City of Lancaster (hereinafter referred to as "Administrator").

B. Appointment, term of office and removal. The Administrator shall be appointed on the basis of merit with due regard to training, experience, administrative ability and general fitness for the office by a majority vote of the Council. This section, however, shall not preclude the Council from establishing other employment terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of this section or the Municipal Code of the City of Lancaster.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Original § 1.17(3), Residency, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05.

C. Functions and duties of the Administrator. The Administrator, subject to the limitations defined in resolutions and ordinances of the City of Lancaster and Wisconsin state statutes, shall be the chief administrative officer of the City, responsible only to the Mayor and the Council for the proper administration of the business affairs of the City, pursuant to the statutes of the State of Wisconsin, the ordinances of the City of Lancaster, and the resolutions and directives of the Council, with power and duties as follows:

(1) General duties.

(a) Carry out directives of the Mayor and Council which require administrative implementation, reporting promptly to the Mayor and Council any difficulties encountered herein.

(b) Be responsible for the administration of all day-to-day operations of the City government including the monitoring of all City ordinances, resolutions, Council meeting minutes and state statutes.

(c) Establish when necessary administrative procedures to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of City government, according to current practices in local government, not inconsistent with directives of the Mayor and Council.

(d) Serve as ex officio nonvoting member of all boards, commissions and committees of the City, except as specified by the Council or state statutes.

(e) Keep informed concerning current federal, state, and county legislation and administrative rules affecting the City and submit appropriate reports and recommendations thereon to the Council.

(f) Keep informed concerning the availability of federal, state and county funds for local programs. Assist department heads and the Council in obtaining these funds under the direction of the Mayor and Council.

(g) Represent the City in matters involving legislative and intergovernmental affairs as authorized and directed as to that representation by the Mayor and Council.

(h) Act as public information officer for the City with the responsibility of assuring that the news media are kept informed about the operations of the City and that all open meeting rules and regulations are followed.

(i) Establish and maintain procedures to facilitate communications between citizens and City government to assure that complaints, grievances, recommendations and other matters receive prompt attention by the responsible official, and to assure that all such matters are expeditiously resolved.

(j) Promote the economic well being and growth of the City of Lancaster through public and private sector cooperation; develop positive working relationships with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Forward Wisconsin, and other agencies promoting economic development in the state; maintain good communication with the commercial and industrial sectors of the City; coordinate business development and retention activities undertaken by the City and other local organizations; initiate economic development activities when the opportunity arises.

(k) Coordinate and advise consulting engineers in state and federal projects being undertaken by the City.

(2) Responsibilities to the Common Council.

(a) Attend all meetings of the Council, assisting the Mayor and the Council as required in the performance of their duties.

(b) In coordination with the Mayor, the Council President, or a minimum of four members of the Council, and the Clerk/Treasurer, ensure that the appropriate agendas are prepared for all meetings of the Council, all Council committees, and all other appropriate committees and commissions of the City, together with such supporting material as may be required, with nothing herein being construed as to give the Administrator authority to limit or in any way prevent matters from being considered by the Council, or any of its committees and commissions.

[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]

(c) Assist the City Attorney in the preparation of ordinances and resolutions as required by the Mayor or the Council, or as needed.

(d) Keep the Mayor and Council regularly informed about the activities of the Administrator's office by oral or written report at regular and special meetings of the Council.

(e) In the event that action normally requiring Council approval is necessary at a time when the Council cannot meet, the Administrator shall receive directives from the Mayor.

(3) Personnel.

(a) Be responsible for the administrative direction and coordination of all employees of the City according to the established organization procedures.

(b) Recommend to the Council the appointment, promotion, and, when necessary for the good of the City, the suspension or termination of department heads.

(c) In consultation with the appropriate department head, be responsible for the appointment, promotion, and when necessary for the good of the City, the suspension or termination of employees below the department head level.

(d) Serve as personnel officer for the City with responsibilities to see that complete and current personnel records, including specific job descriptions, for all City employees are kept; evaluate in conjunction with department heads the performance of all employees on a regular basis; recommend salary and wage scales for City employees not covered by collective bargaining agreements; develop and enforce high standards of performance by City employees; assure that City employees have proper working conditions; work closely with department heads to promptly resolve personnel problems or grievances.

(e) Assist in labor contract negotiations and collective bargaining issues and administer the resulting approved contracts.

(f) Work closely with department heads to assure that employees receive adequate opportunities for training to maintain and improve their job-related knowledge and skills and act as the approving authority for requests by employees to attend conferences, meetings, training schools, etc., provided that funds have been budgeted for these activities.

(4) Budgeting and purchasing.

(a) Be responsible for the preparation of the annual City budget, in accordance with guidelines as may be provided by the Council and in coordination with department heads, and pursuant to state statutes, for review and approval by the Mayor and the Council.

(b) Administer the budget as adopted by the Council.

(c) Report regularly to the Council on the current fiscal position of the City.

(d) Supervise the accounting system of the City and ensure that the system employs methods in accordance with current professional accounting practices.

(e) Serve as the Purchasing Agent for the City, supervising all purchasing and contracting for supplies and services subject to the purchasing procedures established by the Council and any limitation contained in the state statutes.

(f) As directed by the Common Council, work with consulting engineer and Director of Public Works to develop plans and specifications for budgeted public works projects, review cost estimates, prepare bidding documents, schedule necessary meetings and administer public works contracts.

D. Cooperation. All officials and employees of the City shall cooperate with and assist the Administrator so that the City government shall function effectively and efficiently.