(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)