(a)
Appointment
and Qualifications.
The city council shall appoint a
city manager who shall be the chief administrative and executive officer
of the city and shall be responsible to the city council for the administration
of all the affairs of the city. The city manager shall be chosen by
the city council solely on the basis of his/her executive and administrative
training, experience and ability. He/she need not, when appointed
be a resident of the City of Gonzales. The city manager shall reside
within the city limits during his/her tenure of office.
(b)
Term
and Salary.
The city manager shall be appointed for an
indefinite term but may be removed at the will and pleasure of the
city council by a vote of the majority of the entire council. The
action of the city council in suspending or removing the city manager
shall be final, it being the intention of this charter to vest all
authority and fix all responsibility of such suspension or removal
with the city council. In case of the absence or disability of the
city manager, the city council may designate some qualified person
to perform the duties of the office during such absence or disability.
The city manager shall receive compensation as may be fixed by the
council.
(c)
Duties
of the City Manager.
(1)
Appoint,
and when necessary for the welfare of the city, remove any employee
of the city, except as otherwise provided by this charter.
(2)
Prepare
the budget annually and submit it to the city council, and be responsible
for its administration after adoption.
(3)
Prepare
and submit to the city council as of the end of the fiscal year a
complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the
city for the preceding year.
(4)
Keep
the city council advised of the financial condition and future needs
of the city and make such recommendations as may seem desirable.
(5)
Perform
such duties as may be prescribed by this charter or may be required
of him/her by the city council, not inconsistent with this charter.
There shall be established and maintained a department of police
to preserve order within the city and to secure the residents of said
city from violence and the property therein from injury or loss.
(a)
Chief
of Police.
The chief of police shall be the chief administrative
officer of the department of police. He/she shall, with the approval
of the city manager, appoint and remove the employees of said department
and shall perform such duties as may be required of him/her by the
city council. The chief of police shall be appointed by the city manager
with the approval of the city council, for an indefinite term. The
chief of police shall be responsible to the city manager for the administration
of his/her department and the carrying out of the directives of the
city council. He/she may be removed from office by the city manager
with the approval of the city council.
(b)
Special
Police.
No persons except as otherwise provided by general
law or the charter or the ordinances passed pursuant thereto shall
act as special police or special detective.
The city manager shall appoint the city secretary and such assistant
city secretaries as the city council shall deem advisable. The city
secretary, or an assistant city secretary, shall give notice of council
meetings, shall keep the minutes of the proceedings of such meetings,
shall authenticate by his/her signature all ordinances and resolutions
and record all ordinances and resolutions as required by law, and
shall perform such other duties as the city manager shall assign to
him/her, and those elsewhere provided for in this charter.
(a)
There
shall be established and maintained a court designated as a “municipal
court” for the trial of misdemeanor offenses, with all such
powers and duties as are now or hereafter may be prescribed by laws
of the State of Texas relative to municipal courts.
(b)
The judge
of said court shall be a qualified voter of the city, shall be appointed
by the city council, shall hold his/her office at the pleasure of
the city council and shall receive such salary as may be fixed by
ordinance of the city council.
(c)
The city
secretary or an assistant city secretary shall be ex officio clerk
of said court.
(d)
The clerk
of said court and his/her deputies shall have the power to administer
oaths and affidavits, make certificates, affix the seal of said court
thereto, and generally do and perform any and all acts usual and necessary
by the clerk of courts in issuing process of said courts and conducting
the business thereof.
The city council shall appoint a competent and duly licensed
attorney, who is determined to be the most qualified, to be the city
attorney. He/she shall receive for his/her services such compensation
as may be fixed by the city council and shall hold his/her office
at the pleasure of the city council. The city attorney, or such other
attorneys selected by the city council, shall represent the city in
all litigation. He/she shall be the legal advisor of and attorney
and counsel for, the city and all officers and departments thereof.
(May 4, 2019, measure 11; May 1, 2021, measure E)
