[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981; Amending Ord. 06-206 approved by electorate, November 7, 2006; Amending Ord. 03-333 approved by electorate on April 6, 2004, to be effective on April 3, 2007 Mayoral Election]
Within 12 months after the adoption of this charter, the council shall adopt by ordinance an administrative code providing a complete plan of organization and structure for the City government. The administrative code may authorize the mayor to promulgate regulations dealing with questions of organization and structure. The administrative code and any regulations adopted shall be approved by ordinance and consistent with this charter.
The administrative code shall provide for at least the following departments: Finance Department, Public Works Department, Fire Department, Police Department, Department of Law, and the following boards and commissions: Board of Adjustment, Planning and Zoning Commission, Parks and Recreation Board, and Police and Fire Personnel Board. Additional departments, boards, and commissions may be created by ordinance. Nothing in this charter shall prevent the council from combining the police and fire departments into a Department of Public Safety.
All boards and commissions shall have such powers and perform such duties as are prescribed by law or by charter, and if not so prescribed, then such as shall be prescribed by ordinance.
[1]
Cross Reference--As to administration, see Title I of the Municipal Code.
[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981; Amending Ord. 01-3 approved by electorate, April 3, 2001; Amending Ord. 06-201 approved by electorate, November 11, 2006]
The parks and recreation board shall be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the City council. The board shall consist of nine members chosen from the residents of the City at large who shall be over twenty-one (21) years of age and with other qualifications as may be established by ordinance. No member of the City government shall be a parks and recreation board member. Members shall serve three-year terms, with three appointments expiring each year. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be made only for the unexpired vacant term. Members shall serve until a successor has been appointed, approved and sworn in. The Mayor shall appoint a member to the parks and recreation board within thirty days after the expiration of a current member's term or sixty days after a vacancy and shall continue to propose alternative members for appointment every forty-five days after City council action thereon until a member is approved by the City council. Nothing contained in this provision shall limit the number of terms which may be served by any member. Members may be removed during their term by either the mayor with the approval of the council or by a four-fifths (4/5) majority vote of the entire council.
All taxes collected from the tax for parks and recreation noted in Section 3.15 of this charter; all revenues received from the general operation of parks and recreation grounds, facilities and programs; any bond issue proceeds, donations, grant monies, Metropolitan Park and Recreation District sales tax distributed by St. Charles County in the form of grant revenue sharing funds, and non-designated allocations from other City funds which are designated for park and recreation purposes; and the interest earned from any fund balances resulting therefrom shall be used solely for the purposes of parks, recreation and related facilities as the budget and capital improvement plan is exclusively approved and/or amended by the parks and recreation board for the sources of taxes and revenues described in this section; notwithstanding Article VIII of this charter. The parks and recreation board shall review and consider any modifications to the parks and recreation budget and capital improvement program that may be recommended by the Mayor, Council or City Administrator during their procedural roles as described within Article VIII of this charter; however, the ultimate approval of all such expenditures shall remain with the parks and recreation board.
The director and assistant director of parks and recreation shall be appointed and may be disciplined, including but not limited to removal, by a majority of the entire Parks and Recreation Board. The parks and recreation board shall set the compensation for the director and assistant director and all other persons employed by the parks and recreation department. The board may authorize other positions necessary for the operation of the parks and recreation department and may appoint and discipline, including but not limited to removal, persons in those positions, or may delegate the authority to appoint and discipline. The manner of appointments or discipline shall be governed by the personnel code as provided in Section 7.9 of this charter, to the extent that the personnel code is consistent with this section. The parks and recreation board shall direct and supervise the administration of the parks and recreation department.
The parks and recreation board shall have the authority to purchase and to approve contracts for services, materials, supplies and equipment necessary for the operations of the parks and recreation department. The acquisition, improvement, transfer, exchange, lease from or to others, and the disposal of park land or the facilities thereon shall not be done without the approval of the parks and recreation board.
The parks and recreation board shall make and adopt such bylaws, policies, rules and regulations for its own guidance and for the government of the parks and of the recreation programs of the City. The terms of this Section shall supersede and prevail over any and all conflicting language contained in this Charter.
[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981]
The head of the department of finance shall be the director of finance. The director of finance shall have knowledge of municipal accounting and taxation, and shall have experience in budgeting and financial control.
[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981; Amending Ord. 03-333 approved by electorate on April 6, 2004, to be effective on April 3, 2007 Mayoral Election]
Subject to the executive power of the mayor, the director of finance shall have charge of the administration of financial affairs of the City, and to that end the director of finance shall have authority and be required to:
(a) 
Accounting System. Maintain a general accounting system for the City and each of its departments and offices; exercise financial control over the same; keep such books and records and submit such financial statements to the mayor and the council as they may require.
(b) 
Forms. Prescribe the forms of all financial records, receipts, vouchers, bills and claims used by all departments and offices of the City.
(c) 
Disbursement Of Monies. Supervise and be responsible for the disbursement of all monies of the City, and have control over all expenditures to insure that they are proper and that appropriations are not exceeded.
(d) 
Expenditures. Certify, before any contract, order, or other document is executed by which the City would incur financial obligation, that the expenditure is within the purpose of the appropriation and the work program contemplated thereby, and that there is a sufficient unencumbered balance in the appropriation account and in the proper fund to pay the obligation.
(e) 
Approve Payments. Preaudit and approve before payment all bills, invoices, payrolls, and other evidences of claims against the City, and draw and sign checks for the payment of all such valid claims, with countersignature by the mayor.
(f) 
Audit Accounts. Inspect and audit any accounts or records of financial transactions which may be maintained in the director of finance's department and in any other department or office of the City.
(g) 
Collect Revenues. Collect or provide for the collection of all taxes, special assessments, license fees, and other revenues or monies due the City from any source whatsoever; and receive from the various departments and offices all fees, revenues, and monies collected by them.
(h) 
Treasurer. Serve as treasurer for the City, and deposit all funds coming into the director of finance's custody in such depositories as may be designated by the City council. All such funds shall be secured in accordance with law and ordinance.
(i) 
Investments. Make and have custody of all investments of the City, including those held in a fiduciary capacity, under such regulations as the council may prescribe.
(j) 
Budget. Compile the information required for preparing the budget, and assist the mayor in its preparation.
(k) 
Assessment Of Taxable Property. Arrange for the assessment of all taxable property within the City in the manner provided by the council and in accordance with law.
(l) 
Other Duties. Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the mayor.
[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981; Amending Ord. 92-68 approved by electorate, August 4, 1992; Amending Ord. 06-206 approved by electorate, November 7, 2006; Amending Ord. 03-333 approved by electorate on April 6, 2004, to be effective on April 3, 2007 Mayoral Election]
There shall be a purchasing agent, who may be the mayor or someone appointed by the mayor. Pursuant to regulations established by ordinance, the purchasing agent shall contract for, purchase, store, and distribute all services, supplies, materials, and equipment required by any department or office of the City, except boards and commissions which may be exempt by law from such regulations.
The council may establish regulations under which the purchase of designated materials and equipment may be exempt from central purchasing regulations.
[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981; Amending Ord. 99-33 approved by electorate, April 6, 1999; Amending Ord. 03-333 approved by electorate on April 6, 2004, to be effective on April 3, 2007 Mayoral Election]
There shall be a department of law, the head of which shall be known as the City Attorney. A City Attorney shall be appointed by the mayor with the consent of a majority of the entire council. The City Attorney may be removed by executive order of the mayor with the approval of a majority vote of the entire council, or by three-fourths vote of the entire City council on its own initiative. The City Attorney shall be a licensed member of the bar of this state and shall have been in active practice for at least five years. The City Attorney shall receive compensation as determined by ordinance.
[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981; Amending Ord. 03-333 approved by electorate on April 6, 2004, to be effective on April 3, 2007 Mayoral Election]
The City Attorney shall represent the City in all legal matters in which it is a party, or is interested. The City Attorney shall advise the council, any committee or member thereof, the mayor, the director of administration, department heads, and the boards and commissions concerning any legal questions affecting the City's interest, and shall perform such other legal services as may be requested by the council. The City Attorney shall prosecute and defend all actions originating or pending before the municipal court.
[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981]
The City council shall have the power to employ special legal counsel as it deems necessary. The compensation of special counsel shall be determined by the City council.
[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981; Amending Ord. 03-333 approved by electorate on April 6. 2004, to be effective on April 3, 2007 Mayoral Election]
Within 12 months after the adoption of this charter, the council shall adopt by ordinance a personnel code providing a comprehensive personnel system for City officers and employees. The personnel code shall provide that all appointments and promotions of classified City employees shall be made solely on the basis of merit and fitness demonstrated by examination or other evidence of competence. The personnel code may authorize the mayor or a personnel board, if one be established, to promulgate regulations dealing with personnel matters. The personnel code and any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto shall be consistent with this charter.
[1]
Cross Reference--As to personnel code, see Ch. 130 of the Municipal Code.