(A.) 
CREATION OF DEPARTMENTS:
The City Commission may establish City departments, offices or agencies in addition to those created by this Charter and may prescribe the functions of all departments, offices and agencies, except that no function assigned by this Charter to a particular department, office or agency may be discontinued or, unless this Charter specifically so provides, assigned to any other.
(B.) 
DIRECTION BY CITY MANAGER:
All departments, offices and agencies under the direction and supervision of the City Manager shall be administered by an officer appointed by and subject to the direction and supervision of the City Manager. With the consent of the City Commission, the City Manager may serve as the head of one or more such departments, offices or agencies or may appoint one person as the head of two or more of them.
(C.) 
EVALUATIONS:
The City Commission will evaluate all contractual agreements for professional services one year from the date of the contract executions, and annually thereafter. Contract renewals are subject to City Commission evaluation of performance.
(A.) 
MERIT PRINCIPLE:
All appointments and promotions of City officers and employees shall be made solely on the basis of merit and fitness demonstrated by examination or other evidence of competence.
(B.) 
PERSONNEL DIRECTOR:
There shall be a personnel director, appointed by the City Manager as provided in Section 4.01, who shall administer the personnel system of the City.
(C.) 
PERSONNEL RULES:
The personnel director shall prepare personnel rules. When approved by the City Manager, the rules shall be proposed to the City Commission, and the City Commission may by ordinance adopt them with or without amendment. These rules shall provide for:
1. 
The classification of all City positions, based on the duties, authority and responsibility of each position, with adequate provision of reclassification of any position whenever warranted by changed circumstances;
2. 
A pay plan for all City positions;
3. 
Methods for determining the merit and fitness of candidates for appointment or promotion;
4. 
The policies and procedures regulating reduction in force and removal of employees;
5. 
The hours of work, attendance regulations and provisions for sick and vacation leave;
6. 
The policies and procedures governing persons holding provisional appointments;
7. 
The policies and procedures governing relationships with employee organizations;
8. 
Policies regarding in-service training programs;
9. 
Grievance procedure;
10. 
Other practices and procedures necessary to the administration of the City personnel system.
There shall be a legal officer of the City, appointed by the City Commission who shall serve as chief legal adviser to the City Commission, the City Manager and all City departments, offices and agencies, and who shall represent the City in all legal proceedings and shall perform any other duties prescribed in the Charter or ordinance.
The City Commission of the City of Mercedes may appoint one or more legal officers of the City each of whom, must be authorized to practice law in the State of Texas.
(A.) 
MUNICIPAL JUDGE:
That the position of Municipal Judge of said City be created, said Judge to be appointed by the City Commission of the City of Mercedes, Texas, which appointment shall be for one-year term, subject to re-appointment each year thereafter.