The organization of the city into agencies to provide services
and administer the government may be accomplished only through an
administrative order submitted to the city council by the mayor. No
such administrative order may originate with the city council. The
mayor may, subject only to express prohibitions of a general law or
this charter, submit proposals to reorganize, consolidate or abolish
any agency, in whole or in part, or to establish a new agency as is
deemed necessary, establish terms of office and prescribe the functions
and administrative procedures to be followed by all such agencies.
No function assigned by this charter to a particular agency may be
discontinued or assigned to any other agency unless specified by this
charter. The mayor may prepare and submit to the city council, administrative
orders that establish agencies for the orderly, efficient or convenient
conduct of the business of the city. These administrative orders shall
be accompanied by a message from the mayor which explains the expected
benefits and advises the city council if an administrative order shall
require amendments, insertions, revisions, repeal or otherwise of
existing ordinances. Whenever the mayor proposes an administrative
order, the city council shall hold 1 or more public hearings on the
proposal giving notice by publication in a local newspaper and on
the city website, which notice shall describe the scope of the proposal
and the time and place at which the public hearing will be held, not
less than 7 nor more than 14 days following the publication. An organization
or reorganization plan shall become effective at the expiration of
60 days following the date the proposal is submitted to the city council
unless the city council shall, by a majority vote, within that 60
day period, vote to disapprove the plan. The city council may vote
only to approve or to disapprove the plan and may not vote to amend
or to alter it.
All appointments and promotions of persons employed by the city
shall be made on the basis of merit and fitness demonstrated by examination,
past performance or by other evidence of competence and suitability.
Each person employed by the city shall be especially fitted by education,
training and previous work experience to perform the duties of the
office or position.