(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. He shall be chosen by the city council solely on the basis of his executive and administrative training, experience and ability, and need not, when appointed, be a resident of the City of Liberty. No member of the city council shall, during the time for which he is elected and for one (1) year thereafter, be appointed city manager.
(b) 
Term and salary.
The city manager shall not be appointed for a definite 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 for such suspension or removal in the city council. The city manager may designate some qualified employee to perform the duties of the office during the city manager’s absence. In case of the 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 such compensation as may be fixed by the council.
(c) 
Powers and duties of the city manager.
[The city manager shall:]
(1) 
Appoint and 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 by the city council, not inconsistent with this charter.
(Ordinance 910, sec. 1, adopted 5/11/99)
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 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 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, as provided in V.T.C.A., Local Government Code section 141.004. The chief of police shall be responsible to the city manager for the administration of his department and the carrying out of the directives of the city council. He 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.
(Ordinance 910, sec. 1, adopted 5/11/99)
The city manager shall appoint the city secretary and such assistant city secretaries as deemed necessary by the city manager. 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 signature and record in full, all ordinances and resolutions, and shall perform such other duties as the city council and city manager shall assign to him, and those elsewhere provided for in this charter.
(Ordinance 2020-35, prop. P, adopted 11/10/20)
(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 the laws of the State of Texas relative to municipal or recorder’s court, and such other duties as may be prescribed by the city council.
(b) 
The judge of said court shall be a qualified voter of the City of Liberty, shall be appointed by the city council, shall hold his office at the pleasure of the city council, and shall receive such salary as may be fixed by the city council.
(c) 
The clerk of said court and his 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.
(d) 
In case of the disability or absence of the judge of the municipal court, the city council shall appoint an interim judge of the municipal court.
(Ordinance 910, sec. 1, adopted 5/11/99; Ordinance 2010-15 adopted 6/8/10; Ordinance 2020-35, prop. Q, adopted 11/10/20)
The city council shall appoint a competent and duly licensed attorney practicing law in Liberty County, Texas, who shall be the city attorney. He shall receive for his services such compensation as may be fixed by the city council, and shall hold his office at the pleasure of the city council. The city attorney, or such other attorneys selected by him with the approval of the city council, shall represent the city in all litigation. He shall be the legal advisor of, and attorney and counsel for, the city and all officers and departments thereof.
(Resolution adopted 4/4/83)
Editor’s note–Former section 4.06 pertaining to the public health authority and deriving from Ordinance 910 adopted 5/11/99, was deleted in its entirety by Ordinance 2018-12, prop. B, adopted 5/8/18.
Editor’s note–Former section 4.07 pertaining to other departments, was deleted in its entirety by Ordinance 2020-35, prop. R, adopted 11/10/20.