(a) Appointments
and qualifications.
The Council shall appoint a City
Manager who shall be the chief administrative officer of the City,
and shall be responsible to the Council for the administration of
all the affairs of the City. The City Manager shall be chosen by the
Council solely on the basis of their executive and administrative
training, education, experience, ability, and character, and need
not, when appointed, be a resident of the City. No member of the City
Council shall, during the time for which they are elected and for
two (2) years thereafter, be appointed City Manager.
(b) Term
and salary.
The City Manager shall be appointed by the
affirmative vote of five (5) members of the City Council, and may
be removed at the will and pleasure of the Council by the affirmative
vote of five (5) members of the Council. The action of the 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 in the Council. In case of absence or
disability to the City Manager, the Council may designate some qualified
person, other than an elected officer of the City, 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 powers herein conferred
upon the City Manager shall include but shall not be limited to the
following:
(1) Appoint
and remove any officer or employee of the City except those officers
and employees whose appointment or election is otherwise provided
for by law or this Charter.
(2) Direct
and supervise the administration of all departments, offices and agencies
of the City, except as otherwise provided by law or this Charter.
(3) See
that all State laws and City ordinances are effectively enforced.
(4) Prepare
and submit the annual budget and a five (5) year capital improvement
program to the Council as prescribed in Article XII of the Charter.
(5) Submit
to the Council monthly a report thereof on the finances and administrative
activities of the City and a complete report at the end of each fiscal
year.
(6) Attend
all meetings of the Council, except when excused by the Council.
(7) Provide
for an employee grievance system as approved by the Council.
(8) Perform
such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or required
of him by the Council, not inconsistent with provisions of this Charter.
[Ordinance 1473-23 adopted 5/16/2023]
The City Council shall appoint or remove the City Secretary
with approval of a majority of the Council. The City Secretary shall
give notice of Council meetings, shall keep the minutes of the proceedings
of such meetings, shall authenticate by his/her signature and record
in full, in a book kept and indexed for that purpose, all ordinances
and resolutions, and shall perform such other duties as the City Council
shall assign to him/her and those elsewhere provided for in this Charter,
and shall keep and affix the City seal to all official documents.
[Ordinance 1473-23 adopted 5/16/2023]
(a) The City Attorney shall be appointed by a majority vote of the City
Council. The City Council may remove the City Attorney at any time
upon the affirmative vote of a majority of all its members.
(b) The City Attorney shall:
1. Serve as the legal advisor to the Council and City Manager;
2. Represent the City in litigation and legal proceedings as directed
by the Council and City Manager;
3. Review and provide opinions as requested by Council or the City Manager
on contracts, legal instruments, and ordinances of the City; and
4. Perform other duties prescribed by this Charter, by ordinance, or
as directed by the Council or City Manager.
(c) The Council may contract with an attorney or with a firm of attorneys
who may designate one (1) member of said firm, with Council approval,
to serve as City Attorney.
(d) Compensation shall be fixed by contract with the approval of Council
or by appointment subject to the approval of Council.
(e) Council shall have the right to retain separate counsel at any time
that it may deem necessary and appropriate.
[Ordinance 1473-23 adopted 5/16/2023]
The City Council may create or establish, abolish or consolidate,
as many departments or offices as it may deem necessary for the best
interest of the City. It may divide the administration of such departments
or offices as it may deem advisable.