There may be a department of public welfare which shall be under
the supervision of a director of public welfare, who may be the city
manager or a person appointed by the city manager with the approval
of the council. The director of public welfare shall constitute the
local board of public welfare of the city. The director of public
welfare shall appoint the superintendent of public welfare and such
other employees of the department as may be necessary. The superintendent
of public welfare of an adjacent county or counties may be appointed
superintendent of public welfare of the city. The department of public
welfare shall be responsible for carrying out the duties and functions
imposed on local boards and superintendents of public welfare by general
law and such other duties as may be assigned by council.