[Added 7-18-2023 by L.L. No. 6-2023[2]]
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
an employee of the City. 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 five years' management experience and
must have a Bachelor's degree in business and/or public administration
and/or substantially similar field. The City Manager need not be a
resident of the City, but it is preferred.
The City Manager may be suspended or removed by a resolution
approved by a majority of the whole number of the City Council which
shall set forth the reasons for the proposed suspension or 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 no less than 10 days nor more 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 suspension or removal.
By letter addressed and forwarded to the City Council and filed
within 30 days of their 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 the City Manager during the City Manager's temporary
absence or disability.
The City Council may revoke such designation at any time and
appoint another qualified individual to serve until the City Manager
returns.
In the event of removal of the City Manager, the Acting City
Manager shall serve in the role as City Manager until the City Council
has appointed a new City Manager.
The Acting City Manager, when serving as City Manager, shall
hold the same powers and duties of the City Manager.
The City Manager shall be the chief executive officer and 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 and the Code
of the City of Oneida. The City Manager shall:
A.Â
See that all laws, provisions of this Charter and the Code of the
City of Oneida, acts of City Council, and all state laws subject to
enforcement by City action, are faithfully enforced and executed;
B.Â
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, excepts 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.Â
Appoint all officers of the City, including the City Engineer, the
City Comptroller, the City Clerk, the City Attorney, the Assessor,
the Acting City Judge, the Director of Parks and Recreation, the Director
of Planning and Development, the Director of Code Enforcement, and
the Commissioner of Public Safety, subject to the approval of the
Common Council, and all other officers and employees of the City except
as otherwise provided in this Charter or other provision of law.
D.Â
Have, exercise, and perform all functions, powers and duties vested
by state or local law or ordinance in the Chief Executive Officer
and/or Chief Administrative Officer of the City, except as may be
otherwise specifically provided by this Charter;
E.Â
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.Â
Develop and implement a program of annual evaluation of all City
employees for the purpose of maintaining and improving employee performance;
G.Â
Designate any qualified person to be the acting head of any department,
office, or agency appointed by the City Manager during the period
of any vacancy, absence or disability until a permanent appointment
can be made or the disability of the permanent head is removed;
H.Â
Whenever the interest of the City requires, temporarily assign any
officer or employee of any department, agency, or office to perform
similar duties in another department, agency, or office;
I.Â
With the assistance of the City Comptroller, prepare the current
expense and revenue estimates for the annual budget in cooperation
with department heads and compile the capital expenditures estimates
for the annual budget;
J.Â
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;
K.Â
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, Civil Service, and local law;
L.Â
Delegate to department heads such power as may be deemed necessary
for efficient administration;
M.Â
With the assistance of the City Comptroller, 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;
N.Â
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 they may
deem proper;
O.Â
Upon approval of the warrants ordered by the City Council, they shall
execute on behalf of the City, in coordination with the City Comptroller,
all checks for payment; in addition, the City Manager shall, upon
authorization by the City Council, execute any and all contracts and
other such papers on behalf of the City;
P.Â
The City Manager or their designee shall be responsible for ensuring
that all public records are kept by the appropriate department in
accordance with New York State laws;
Q.Â
Subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the Public Safety Commissioner
and department heads, as set forth in applicable City Code and City
Charter provisions, the City Manager shall have the authority to investigate
and to conduct hearings into the official conduct of all the City
officers, departments, and agencies and have access to all records
and papers kept by every City officer, department, and agency and
have the power to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production
of books, papers or other evidence to any such hearings and for that
purpose may issue subpoenas signed by them; and
R.Â
Perform such other duties as are specified in this Charter or may
be required by the City Council.
