Except as otherwise prohibited by general law or by the charter,
the city council may, by ordinance, reorganize, consolidate, or abolish
any existing city agency in whole or in part, establish new city agencies,
and prescribe the functions of any city agency. All city agencies
under the direction and supervision of the city manager shall be headed
and administered by officers appointed by the manager.
(a)
Submission - The city manager may from time to time prepare and submit
to the city council reorganization plans which may, unless prohibited
by general law or the charter, reorganize, consolidate, or abolish
any existing city agency in whole or in part, establish new city agencies,
and prescribe the functions of any city agency. Each such reorganization
plan shall be accompanied by an explanatory message when submitted
to the city council.
(b)
Council Action - Every such reorganization plan shall, upon receipt
by the city council, be referred to an appropriate standing committee
of the city council for study and report. Within thirty days following
its referral to a committee a public hearing shall be held concerning
the proposal, either before the standing committee, or before the
full city council. Within fourteen days following the conclusion of
the public hearing the standing committee to which such matter was
referred shall file a report stating either that it approves of the
reorganization plan or that it disapproves of it. A reorganization
plan shall become effective on the ninetieth day following the date
of its receipt by the city council, unless a later date is specified
in the reorganization plan, or unless the city council has within
said period voted to disapprove of it. A reorganization plan submitted
by the city manager under this section may not be amended by the city
council but shall either be approved or disapproved in the form as
submitted.
An up-to-date record of reorganization plans under section 6-2(b) shall be kept on file in the office of the city clerk and copies of all such plans shall be published as an appendix to any publication of the ordinances of the city.
