The City Council by a majority vote of its total membership shall appoint a City Manager for an indefinite term and fix the City Manager's compensation periodically. The City Manager shall be appointed solely on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications for the duties of the office. Prior to the appointment, the City Manager shall be qualified by at least one year's special training in public administration and finance and by at least three years of successful experience in a responsible executive position in governmental administration, or by any equivalent training or combination of experience and training sufficient to indicate capacity for effective governmental administration. The City Manager need not be a resident of the city or state at the time of his/her appointment, but must reside in the city within 180 days of appointment.
The City Manager may be suspended by a resolution approved by a majority of the whole number of the City Council which shall set forth the reasons for suspension and proposed removal. A copy of such resolution shall be served immediately upon the City Manager. The City Manager shall have 15 days in which to reply thereto in writing, and upon request, shall be afforded a public hearing, which shall occur not earlier than 10 days nor later than 15 days after such hearing is requested. After the public hearing, if one be requested, and after full consideration, the City Council by a majority vote of the whole number of the City Council may adopt a final resolution of removal.
By letter addressed and forwarded to the City Council and filed within 30 days of his/her appointment and maintained on file or replaced from time to time with the City Clerk, the City Manager shall designate a city officer or employee to exercise the powers and perform the duties of City Manager during the City Manager's temporary absence or disability. The City Council may revoke such designation at any time and appoint another officer of the city to serve until the City Manager returns.
The City Manager shall be the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Administrative Officer of the city and shall be responsible to the City Council for the administration of all city affairs placed in the City Manager's charge by or under this Charter. The City Manager shall:
A. 
See that all laws, provisions of this Charter and acts of the City Council, subject to enforcement by the City Manager or by officers subject to the City Manager's direction and supervision, are faithfully executed.
B. 
When necessary for the good of the service, suspend or remove any city employees and appointive administrative officers provided for, by or under this Charter, except as otherwise provided for by law, this Charter, or personnel rules adopted pursuant to this Charter. The City Manager may authorize any administrative officer subject to the City Manager's direction and supervision to exercise these powers with respect to subordinates in that officer's department, office or agency.
C. 
Appoint, with the approval of the City Council, all officers of the city, including City Clerk, City Finance Director, City Attorney(s), Fire Chief, Police Chief, Superintendent of Public Works, Assessor, Director of Parks and Recreation, Director of the Senior Center, Director of Planning and Economic Development and Registrar of Vital Statistics.
[Amended 1-2-1996 by L.L. No. 1-1996; 9-17-1997 by L.L. No. 7-1997; 6-22-1998 by L.L. No. 8-1998]
D. 
Have, exercise and perform all functions, powers and duties vested by state or local law or ordinance in the Chief Administrative Officer of the city, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by this Charter.
E. 
Attend all meetings of the City Council with the right to take part in the discussions, including all Executive Sessions excepting discussions pertaining to the City Manager, but without the right to vote.
F. 
Serve as Chief Financial Officer of the city.
G. 
Serve as the Personnel Officer of the city.
H. 
Serve as the Director of Public Safety.
I. 
[1]Develop and implement a program of annual evaluation of all city employees for the purpose of maintaining and improving employee performance.
[Amended 6-22-1998 by L.L. No. 9-1998]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection I, as amended, which provided that the City Manager would serve as the Director of the Urban Renewal Agency, was repealed 6-3-2013 by L.L. No. 4-2013. This local law also provided for the redesignation of former Subsections J through V as Subsections I through U, respectively.
J. 
Provide for the exercise of budgetary control for each separate appropriation account; establish procedures and practices for the pre-auditing and control of all city revenues and expenditures; provide for the safety and investment of all city funds; provide for the management of the city debt; develop policies to safeguard the city's financial interest in the fullest extent.
K. 
Prepare the current expense and revenue estimates for the annual budget in cooperation with department heads.
L. 
Compile the capital expenditures estimates for the annual budget.
M. 
Keep the City Council advised of the financial condition of the city; make reports to the City Council as requested by it; and at the second regularly scheduled meeting of the calendar year, make a report and address to the City Council and the citizens on the administration of city government.
N. 
Study the governmental and administrative operations and needs of the city government and prepare and recommend to the City Council necessary and desirable plans and programs to meet present and foreseeable needs.
O. 
Assign and transfer administrative functions, powers and duties among and within departments, as the best interest of the city may appear subject to the Charter and local law.
P. 
Delegate to department heads such power as may be deemed necessary for efficient administration.
Q. 
Hear and entertain any complaint against any of his/her appointees for misconduct or neglect of duty and to suspend such appointee until the next regular meeting of the City Council, when such complaint shall be investigated by it, and the appointee reinstated, removed or suspended for such additional time as it may deem just or proper.
R. 
Submit to the City Council and make available to the public a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the city as of the end of each fiscal year.
S. 
Communicate to the City Council, not later than its second regularly scheduled meeting after the beginning of his/her term of office, a general statement of the affairs of the city in relation to its finances, government and improvements, with such recommendations as he/she may deem proper.
T. 
Sign all warrants ordered by the City Council for the payment of moneys and when authorized by the City Council to do so, he/she shall execute on behalf of the city, all contracts and other such papers to be executed as an act of the city.
U. 
Have the power to issue subpoenas and to compel the attendance of persons to appear and testify before him/her in respect to any matter pending before or referred to the City Manager.
V. 
The City Manager or his/her designee shall be responsible for ensuring that all public records are kept by the appropriate department in accordance with New York State laws.
[Added 9-8-1998 by L.L. No. 24-1998[2]]
[2]
Editor's Note: This local law also provided for the redesignation of former Subsection X as Subsection Y.
W. 
[3]Perform such other duties as are specified in this Charter or may be required by the City Council.
[Added 11-3-1997 by L.L. No. 9-1997]
[3]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection W, added 11-3-1997 by L.L. No. 9-1997, which provided that the City Manager would serve as the Director of the Corning Urban Renewal Agency, was repealed 6-3-2013 by L.L. No. 4-2013. This local law also provided for the redesignation of former Subsections X and Y as Subsections V and W, respectively.