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