There shall be a city manager. The council shall appoint him for an indefinite term by a vote of a majority of all its members, and shall fix his compensation. It shall choose him solely on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications. At the time of his appointment, he need not be a resident of the city or state; but, during his tenure of office, he shall reside within the city. The council may suspend or remove the city manager at any time by a vote of a majority of all its members.
The salary of the city manager shall not exceed $5,000.00 per year unless such maximum is increased by ordinance. An ordinance increasing or decreasing the maximum salary which the city manager may receive shall be a nonemergency ordinance; and if a sufficient and legal referendum petition is properly filed within thirty days after its passage and publication, the ordinance shall not go into effect until approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the city voting on the question at an election.
If the city manager is absent from the city or is unable to perform his duties, if the council suspends the city manager, or if there is a vacancy in the office of city manager, the council may appoint an acting city manager to serve until the city manager returns, until his disability or suspension ceases, or until another city manager is appointed and qualifies, as the case may be. The council may suspend or remove an acting city manager at any time. When a councilman is serving as acting city manager, section 6 of this charter shall not limit the compensation which he may receive as such.
[Amended 2-7-1989 by resolution, approved at election 4-4-1989]
The city manager shall be chief administrative officer and head of the administrative branch of the city government. He shall execute the laws and ordinances and administer the government of the city and shall be responsible therefor to the council. He shall:
(1) 
Appoint and, when deemed necessary for the good of the service, lay off, suspend, demote or remove all directors or heads of administrative departments and all other administrative officers and employees of the city except as he may authorize the head of a department, an officer or an agency to appoint, lay off, suspend, demote and/or remove subordinates in such department, office or agency, subject to such merit-system regulations as the council may adopt;
(2) 
Supervise and control, directly or indirectly, all administrative departments, agencies, officers and employees;
(3) 
Prepare a budget annually and submit it to the council, be responsible for the administration of the budget after it goes into effect, and recommend to the council any changes in the budget which he deems desirable;
(4) 
Submit to the council a report as of the end of the fiscal year on the finances and administrative activities of the city for the preceding year;
(5) 
Keep the council advised of the financial condition and future needs of the city and make such recommendations on matters of policy and other matters to the council as may seem to him desirable;
(6) 
Have such other powers, duties and functions as this charter may prescribe, and such powers, duties and functions consistent with this charter as the council may prescribe.
(1) 
There shall be a library board. It shall consist of six members appointed by the council for overlapping terms of three years and to serve until their respective successors have been appointed and qualify. The terms of two members shall begin at 7:30 o'clock P.M. on the second Tuesday in April in every year. The council may remove a member for the good of the service and may fill vacancies for unexpired terms. Members shall serve without compensation.
Every year, at the time prescribed for the beginning of the terms of new members or as soon thereafter as practicable, the library board shall elect a chairman, a vice chairman and a secretary; and the secretary need not be a member of the board. It shall determine the time and place of its regular meetings; and the chairman or any four members may call special meetings of the board.
The library board may adopt regulations for the administration and operation of the public library or libraries, subject to ordinances which the council may enact; and may make recommendations to the council and to the city manager on matters pertaining to the library or libraries.
(2) 
Library personnel shall be appointed, and may be laid off, suspended, demoted and removed, as provided in section 22 of this charter; provided that regular (that is, nontemporary) library personnel may be appointed, laid off, suspended without pay, demoted and removed only after the authority taking the action has consulted in person or in writing with the library board.
(1) 
There shall be a cemetery board. It shall consist of five members appointed by the council for overlapping terms of five years and to serve until their respective successors have been appointed and qualify. The term of one member shall begin at 7:30 o'clock P.M. on the second Tuesday in April in every year. The council may remove a member for the good of the service and may fill vacancies for unexpired terms. Members shall serve without compensation.
Every year, at the time prescribed for the beginning of the term of a new member or as soon thereafter as practicable, the cemetery board shall elect a chairman, a vice chairman and a secretary; and the secretary need not be a member of the board. It shall determine the time and place of its regular meetings; and the chairman or any three members may call special meetings of the board.
The cemetery board may adopt regulations for the administration and operation of the city cemetery or cemeteries, subject to ordinances which the council may enact; and may make recommendations to the council and to the city manager on matters pertaining to the cemetery or cemeteries.
(2) 
Cemetery personnel shall be appointed and may be laid off, suspended, demoted and removed as provided in section 22 of this charter; provided that regular (that is, nontemporary) cemetery personnel may be appointed, laid off, suspended without pay, demoted and removed only after the authority taking the action has consulted in person or in writing with the cemetery board.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 26, regarding the hospital board, was repealed 2-7-1989 by resolution, approved at election 4-4-1989.