The office of city administrator of the city is established.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/21)
(a)
The
city administrator shall have the duty and responsibility of the management
of the day-to-day business affairs of the city and the supervision
of all personnel which shall include hiring, firing, designation of
duties and setting compensation. All expenditures must be contained
within the total expenditures set forth in the annual budget as the
same may be amended from time to time as permitted under state law.
(b)
Notwithstanding
the above, the council shall be solely responsible for the hiring,
firing and compensation of the city administrator, chief of police,
municipal court judge and city attorney.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/21)
(a)
Neither
the council nor any of its committees or members shall direct or request
the appointment of any person to, or his removal from, office by the
city administrator or any of his or her subordinates.
(b)
The
council shall deal with the administrative service solely through
the city administrator, and neither the city council nor any member
thereof shall give any order or instruction to any subordinate of
the city administrator, including appointed positions, either publicly
or privately. Any subordinate so contacted shall so inform the city
administrator immediately.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/21)
Specific powers and duties of the city administrator shall be
as follows:
(1)
Except
for those persons which are appointed by the city council in accordance
with any law or ordinance of the city, appoint and remove all department
heads with council confirmation, hire and fire city employees, and,
in addition, promote, demote, discipline, and take any and all other
personnel actions as deemed necessary according to state law and city
personnel policies. Any officer or employee whom the city administrator
may appoint may be removed by the city administrator at any time,
and any such decision by the city administrator shall be final.
(2)
Act
as budget officer, [and] as such, prepare and submit to the city council,
prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, a budget of the prepared
[proposed] income and expenditures for the ensuing year.
(3)
Keep
the city council advised of the financial conditions and future needs
of the city and make such recommendations as deemed advisable.
(4)
Recommend
to the city council the adoption of such measures as may be deemed
necessary or expedient for the health, safety or welfare of the city
or for the improvement of administrative services of the city to achieve
greater cost effectiveness or program results.
(5)
Assist
the city council in applying for federal and state grants.
(6)
Attend
all meetings of the city council, unless excused therefrom, and take
part in discussion of all matters coming before the council. He or
she shall be entitled to receive notice of all regular and special
meetings.
(7)
See
that all laws and ordinances are duly enforced.
(8)
Enforce
all personnel policies and rules, and advise the city council on personnel
system improvements as needed.
(9)
Designate
a subordinate or subordinates to act in his stead for the purpose
of signing any and all permits, including but not limited to electrical,
mechanical, plumbing and building, city-issued licenses and reports
required by state and federal entities.
(10)
Such other duties as required by ordinance or law.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/21)
(a)
Notwithstanding
anything in this division to the contrary, during any period of time
when there is a vacancy in the office of the city administrator, the
mayor with the consent of council, shall appoint another qualified
person to act in the capacity as city administrator. If the person
appointed is an elected official such appointment shall have no additional
compensation over and above the compensation paid to the aldermen
as an elected official and shall be considered to be additional duties
of the officer authorized by the governing body under section 22.072(a)
and conferred by the mayor under section 22.071(c) of the Texas Local
Government Code. The appointment shall terminate upon the council’s
designation of a new city administrator or at the end of the next
regularly scheduled council meeting unless the appointment is extended
by duly passed resolution.
(b)
The
hereafter enumerated powers prescribed to the office of city administrator
are delegated to the acting city administrator and no others. Any
power not expressly delegated to the acting city administrator is
reserved to the city council. The powers delegated are:
(1)
Subject to the limitations hereafter stated, to enforce all personnel
policies and rules and the power to handle all routine personnel matters
except the power to hire, fire, or change the compensation of an employee.
The acting city administrator shall have the power to suspend any
city employee with pay. In the event that any city employee is suspended
by the acting city administrator, a special city council meeting shall
be called as soon as practical to consider the reinstatement, reassignment,
demotion, or suspension without pay or the termination of the employee.
(2)
To keep the city council advised of the financial condition and future
needs of the city and to make such recommendations as deemed advisable.
(3)
To work directly with outside consultants in developing solutions
to identified local service needs.
(4)
To recommend to the city council the adoption of such measures as
may be deemed necessary or expedient for the health, safety or welfare
of the city, or for the improvement of administrative services of
the city, and to achieve greater cost effectiveness or program results.
(5)
To be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city, including
the acquisition of any payment for those items previously authorized
in the budget for the current fiscal year.
(6)
To see that all laws and ordinances are duly enforced.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/21)
