The Council shall appoint a City Manager within 90 days after
any vacancy exists in such position. The City Manager shall hold office
at the pleasure of a majority of the Council, but he shall not be
removed from office during a period of 90 days following any regular
City election except by the affirmative vote of four members of the
Council. He shall be selected solely on the basis of his executive
and administrative qualifications with special reference to his training
and experience. At the time of his appointment, he need not be a resident
of the City or state, but during tenure of office he shall reside
within the City. Removal of the City Manager may be made by the Council
in its sole discretion, provided, however, that 10 days' notice to
the City Manager be given, and any action taken by the Council be
at a regularly scheduled meeting. The City Manager affected may be
present and be heard at such meeting.
The City Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of
the City government. His functions and duties shall be:
(a) To be responsible to the Council for the efficient administration
of all administrative departments of the City government, except the
department under the direction of the [City] Attorney;
(b) To see that all laws and ordinances are enforced;
(c) To give to the proper department or officials ample notice of the
expiration or termination of any franchises, contracts, or agreements;
(d) To see that all terms and conditions imposed in favor of the City
or its inhabitants in any public utility franchise, or in any contract,
are faithfully kept and performed;
(e) To recommend an annual budget to the Council and to administer the
budget as finally adopted, under policies formulated by the Council,
and to keep the Council fully advised at all times as to the financial
conditions and needs of the City;
(f) To attend Council meetings with the right to take part in discussions
but not to vote, and to recommend to the Council for adoption such
measures as he may deem necessary or expedient;
(g) To exercise and perform all administrative functions of the City
that are not imposed by this Charter upon some other official;
(h) To be responsible for the maintenance of a system of accounts of
the City; which system of accounts shall be in conformance with any
uniform system required by law;
(i) To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter
or as may be required of him by ordinance or by direction of the Council.
The Council may appoint or designate an Acting City Manager
during the period of a vacancy in the office or during the absence
of the City Manager from the City, or during a period of illness or
disability on the part of the City Manager. Such Acting Manager shall,
while he is in such office, have all the responsibilities, duties,
functions and authority of the City Manager.
The City Assessor shall possess all powers vested in, and shall
be charged with all duties imposed upon assessing officers by the
general law of the State. He shall make and prepare all regular and
assessment rolls in the manner prescribed by this Charter, by ordinance
or by statute. He shall also perform such other duties as may be prescribed
for him in this Charter or by the Council.
The City shall have the maximum number of representatives on
the Berrien County Board of Supervisors as are permitted by law. Representatives
shall be appointed by the first Council and thereafter by the Council
at its first regular meeting in March of each year and shall serve
at the pleasure of the Council. Representatives shall be qualified
electors of the City and shall have resided in the City for at least
two years prior to their appointment. The Council may appoint City
officials including Councilmen or City employees as Supervisors as
well as qualified electors of the City. In case any representative
of the City on the Board of Supervisors shall be unable to attend
any meeting of the Board for any reason, the Mayor may, in writing,
appoint a qualified person to discharge the duties of the office during
his inability to attend. Representatives of the City on the Board
of Supervisors shall be entitled to retain any compensation and expense
allowances paid to them as members of the Board of Supervisors.