City of Watertown, MA Article 3 CITY MANAGER

SECTION 3-1 APPOINTMENT, TERM OF OFFICE; QUALIFICATIONS.

(a) Appointment, Term of Office - The city council, by the affirmative vote of at least five members, shall appoint a city manager.

(b) Qualifications - The city manager shall be appointed solely on the basis of his or her executive and administrative qualifications. The city manager shall be a person especially fitted by education, training and previous experience in municipal administration directly related to the profession of municipal management to perform the duties of the office.

The city manager shall devote his or her full time to the office and shall not hold any other public office, elected or appointed, nor shall the person serving as city manager engage in any other business, occupation or profession unless such action is approved, in advance, by the city council.

The city council may, by ordinance, establish other qualifications for the office of city manager.

SECTION 3-2 POWERS AND DUTIES.

The city manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the city and shall be responsible to the city council for the proper administration of all city affairs placed under his or her charge by or under the charter. The city manager shall be responsible for implementation of policies established by the city council, as reflected in the city council's votes and resolutions and in ordinances, appropriation orders, and loan authorizations. The powers and duties of the city manager shall include, but are not intended to be limited to, the following:

1) Supervise, direct and be responsible for the efficient administration of all city activities placed under his or her control by the charter, by ordinance, or otherwise, including all officers appointed by the manager and their respective agencies.

2) Be responsible for the coordination of the activities of all agencies under his or her control with the activities of all other city agencies, including those elected by the voters of Watertown and those appointed by other elected officials.

3A) Appoint, and may remove, subject to the civil service law and any collective bargaining agreements as may be applicable, all department heads, town officers, and employees of town agencies under the direction and supervision of the town manager. Prior to posting and beginning the search for a department head position, the town manager shall meet with the town council to discuss priorities for the department and desirable qualifications and qualities of candidates for the position.

3B) Appoint all members of multi-member bodies for whom no other method of appointment is provided by general law, the charter, ordinance or town council resolution. Appointments made by the town manager to multi-member bodies shall be subject to confirmation of the town council, as provided by ordinance.

4) Administer personnel related matters, including bargaining with municipal employees, and shall fix the compensation of all municipal employees appointed by the manager within the limits established by appropriation and any ordinance or collective bargaining agreement.

5) Assure that all of the provisions of the General Laws, the city charter, city ordinances, and other votes of the city council which require enforcement by him or her, or by officers or employees subject to his or her supervision, are faithfully carried out and enforced.

6) Prepare and submit an annual operating budget and a capital outlay program as provided in Article 5.

7) Assure that a full and complete record of the financial and administrative activities of the city is kept and shall render a complete written report to the city council at the end of each fiscal year and at such times as the city council may reasonably require.

7A) Execute contracts, subject to such prior city council approval as may be prescribed by ordinance.

8) Have full jurisdiction over the rental and use of all city facilities, except school and library buildings and grounds. The Town Manager shall be responsible for the maintenance and repair of all city-owned property, including, if authorized by an ordinance establishing a central city maintenance department, school and library buildings and grounds.

9) Inquire at any time into the conduct of office of any officer, employee, or department under his or her supervision.

10) Assure that a full and complete inventory of all property owned by the city, both real and personal, is kept.

11) Make such recommendations, from time to time, to the city council, which, in the manager's judgment, are deemed necessary or desirable

12) Authorize any subordinate officer or employee to exercise any power or perform any function which the city manager is authorized to exercise or perform, provided, however, all acts performed under any such delegation shall be deemed to be the acts of the city manager.

13A) Determine the existence of a public emergency or danger and shall assume responsibility for the maintenance of public safety, public order and enforcement of laws. The manager shall notify the council president as soon as practical, but within 24 hours, of such a public emergency or danger and of the actions taken. Should the public emergency continue more than 24 hours, the city council may meet to review, ratify, or terminate said public emergency.

13B) Execute all deeds conveying city real property, but that any such conveyance shall have been previously authorized by the vote of the city council pursuant to the applicable provisions of the General Laws.

13C) Publish an annual report comprising the complete statistical record of the operations of every city department, commission and committee for the preceding year, and it shall be published annually and made available for distribution to the public not later than four months after the end of the period on which the report is based.

14) Be responsible for city government communications, including, but not limited to, developing a timely and comprehensive communication strategy, coordinating the announcements and messages from department heads, communicating regularly, via all available media avenues, with residents, ensuring that all aspects of the city's website are kept up-to-date, and soliciting recommendations for greater communication from residents.

15) In order to provide transparency, accountability, and the opportunity to communicate expectations and results to the public, maintain a public-facing data and performance management initiative that periodically monitors, reports, and benchmarks progress on the implementation of the council's strategic priorities; key performance measures to benchmark the activities of the city as a whole and city departments, commissions and committees; and any other subject matter that, in the discretion of the manager, focuses on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of city services.

16) Perform such other functions as may from time to time be assigned to the office of city manager by ordinance or other vote of the city council, or otherwise.

SECTION 3-3 COMPENSATION.

The city manager shall receive such compensation as may from time to time be established for the office of city manager, by ordinance.

SECTION 3-4 REMOVAL.

Before the city manager may be removed, if the manager so demands, the manager shall be given a written statement of the reasons alleged for the manager's removal, and shall have a right to be heard thereon at a meeting of the city council prior to the final vote on the question of removal, but pending and during such hearing the city council may suspend the manager from office The action of the city council in suspending or removing the city manager shall be final, it being the intention of this provision to vest all authority and to fix all responsibility for such suspension or removal in the city council. The city manager shall continue to receive the manager's salary until the effective date of a final vote of removal. The city council may, by ordinance, establish a procedure governing the removal from office of a city manager in such detail as it may deem necessary or desirable.

SECTION 3-5 ACTING CITY MANAGER.

(a) Temporary Absence - The city manager shall, by letter filed with the city council and a copy filed with the city clerk, designate a qualified city officer or administrative employee to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the office during temporary absence. During the first ten working days of a temporary absence of the city manager, the city council may revoke such designation by a two-thirds vote and, after the expiration of ten working days, by a majority vote, whereupon it may appoint another qualified city officer or employee to serve as acting city manager until the city manager shall return and resume the manager's duties.

(b) Vacancy - Any vacancy in the office of city manager shall be filled as soon as possible by the city council but pending such appointment the city council shall designate a qualified city officer or administrative employee to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the city manager on an acting basis. The appointment of an acting city manager shall be for a term not to exceed four months; provided, however, one renewal, not to exceed a second four months, may be permitted.

(c) Powers and Duties -The powers of a temporary or acting city manager shall be limited to matters not admitting of delay; provided, however, no temporary city manager under (a) above shall have authority to make any permanent appointment to, or removal from, any office or position under the city.

SECTION 3-6 EVALUATION OF CITY MANAGER.

The city council shall conduct an annual review of the city manager's job performance in a manner provided by ordinance. This review shall include specific metrics for goals related to the powers and duties outlined in Section 3-2. The council shall provide opportunities for public participation in the review process.

SECTION 3-7 RESIDENTS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The city manager shall establish a Residents' Advisory Committee to assist with recruitment, evaluation, and selection of candidates for appointment to multiple-member bodies. In making appointments to multiple-member bodies, the city manager shall seek to appoint individuals with relevant expertise or experience. The city manager shall work with the Residents' Advisory Committee to establish policies and practices to actively encourage a diverse pool of applicants for multiple-member bodies. The city manager and Residents' Advisory Committee shall recognize the importance of diversity in appointments, including, but not limited to, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, and ethnicity.