The Mayor and City Council by five (5) affirmative votes shall appoint a city manager for an indefinite term and fix the manager’s compensation. The city manager shall be appointed solely on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications. The manager need not be a resident of the city or state at the time of appointment, but must secure and maintain permanent residency within the City within six (6) months of his/her initial employment. Failure to comply with residency requirement will result in termination without severance pay. The City Council may offer a contract to the City Manager, but said contract shall never exceed three (3) years.
The city manager may be suspended by a resolution approved by five (5) affirmative votes of the Mayor and City Council which shall set forth the reasons for suspension and proposed removal. A copy of such resolution shall be served immediately upon the city manager. The city manager shall have fifteen (15) days in which to reply thereto in writing, and upon request, shall be afforded a public hearing, which shall occur not earlier than ten (10) days nor later than fifteen (15) days after such hearing is requested. After the public hearing, if requested, and after full consideration, the city council by a majority vote of its total membership may adopt a final resolution of removal. The city manager shall continue to receive full salary until the effective date of a final resolution of removal. The City Manager is an at-will employee.
By letter filed with the city secretary, the mayor and city council shall designate a city officer or employee to exercise the powers and perform the duties of city manager during the manager’s temporary absence or disability. The mayor and city council may revoke such designation at any time and appoint another officer of the city to serve until the city manager returns.
The city manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the city, responsible to the Council for the administration of all city affairs placed in the manager’s charge by or under this charter. The city manager shall:
(1) 
Appoint and, when necessary for the good of the service, suspend or remove all city employees and appointive administrative officers provided for by or under this charter, except as otherwise provided for by law, this charter or personnel rules adopted pursuant to this charter. Director appointments shall be approved by the city council before said director assumes his/her official duties. The city manager may authorize any administrative officer subject to the manager’s direction and supervision to exercise these powers with respect to subordinates in that officer’s department, office or agency;
(2) 
Direct and supervise the administration of all departments, offices, and agencies of the city, except as otherwise provided by this charter or by law;
(3) 
Attend all city council meetings. The city manager shall have the right to take part in discussion but shall not have a vote;
(4) 
See that all laws, provisions of this charter and acts of the city council, subject to enforcement by the city manager or by officers subject to the city manager’s direction and supervision, are faithfully executed;
(5) 
Submit the initial annual budget and capital program to the city council;
(6) 
Submit to the city council and make available to the public a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the city as of the end of each fiscal year;
(7) 
Make such other reports as the city council may require concerning the operations of city departments, offices, and agencies subject to the city manager’s direction and supervision;
(8) 
Keep the city council fully advised as to the financial condition and future needs of the city;
(9) 
Make recommendations to the city council concerning the affairs of the city;
(10) 
Provide staff support services for the mayor and councilmembers; and
(11) 
Perform such other duties as are specified in this charter or may be required by the city council.