There shall be a City Administrator who shall be the Chief Administrative
Officer of the City. He shall be appointed by the affirmative vote
of at least a majority of the members of the City Council and shall
serve at the pleasure of the City Council, provided, however, that
he shall not be removed from office except as provided in this Charter.
He shall be chosen on the basis of his executive and administrative
qualifications, and adequate examination, with special reference to
his actual experience in, and his knowledge of, accepted practice
in respect to the duties of his office as herein set forth, and shall
have been the manager or Chief Administrative Officer of a City or
County for at least five years or shall have been the assistant or
deputy of such manager or Chief Administrative Officer for at least
five years or shall have had at least five years experience in the
management of a business or other organization, or shall have had
commensurate and equal public or private administrative experience.
He shall be at least 30 years of age.
(Amended pursuant to election held June
4, 1974)
The City Administrator need not be a resident of the City at
the time of his appointment, but he shall establish his residence
within the City within 30 days after the effective date of his appointment,
unless such period is extended by the City Council, and thereafter
maintain his residence within the City during his tenure of office.
No person shall be eligible to receive appointment as City Administrator
or Acting City Administrator while serving as a member of the City
Council nor within one year after he has ceased to be a member of
the City Council.
The City Administrator shall be paid a salary commensurate with
his responsibilities as Chief Administrative Officer of the City,
which salary shall be established by ordinance or resolution. The
City Administrator shall furnish a corporate surety bond conditioned
upon the faithful performance of his duties in such form and in such
amount as may be determined by the City Council; the premium on such
bond shall be paid by the City.
The City Administrator shall be the Chief Administrative Officer
and head of the administrative branch of the City government. Except
as otherwise provided in this Charter, he shall be responsible to
the City Council for the proper administration of all affairs of the
City. Without limiting the foregoing general grant of powers, responsibilities
and duties, subject to the provisions of this Charter, including the
civil service provisions thereof, the City Administrator shall have
power and be required to:
(a) Appoint, and he may promote, demote, suspend or remove all department
heads, officers and employees of the City except elective officers
and those department heads, officers and employees the power of whose
appointment is vested by this Charter in the City Council. He may
authorize the head of any department or office to appoint or remove
subordinates in such department or office. No department head shall
be appointed or removed until the City Administrator shall first have
reviewed such appointment or removal with the City Council and received
its approval for such appointment or removal.
(b) Prepare the budget annually, submit it to the City Council, and be
responsible for its administration after its adoption.
(c) Prepare and submit to the City Council as of the end of each fiscal
year, a complete report on the finances of the City for the preceding
fiscal year, and annually or more frequently, a current report of
the principal administrative activities of the City.
(d) Keep the City Council advised of the financial condition and future
needs of the City and make such recommendations as may to him seem
desirable.
The City Administrator each year shall prepare and submit to
the City Council a Five-Year Capital Program at least three months
prior to the final date for submission of the budget. The Capital
Program shall include:
(1) A clear general summary of its contents;
(2) A list of all capital improvements which are proposed to be undertaken
during the five fiscal years next ensuing, with appropriate supporting
information as to the necessity for such improvements;
(3) Cost estimates, method of financing and recommended time schedules
for each such improvement; and
(4) The estimated annual cost of operating and maintaining the facilities
to be constructed or acquired.
The above information may be revised and extended each year
with regard to capital improvements still pending or in process of
construction or acquisition. Said Capital Program shall be a public
record open to public inspection.
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(e) Establish and maintain through the Director of Finance, a centralized
purchasing system for all City offices, departments and agencies.
(f) Prepare rules and regulations governing the contracting for, purchasing,
inspection, storing, inventory, distribution and disposal of all supplies,
materials and equipment required by any office, department or agency
of the City government and recommend them to the City Council for
adoption by ordinance, and administer and enforce the same after adoption.
(g) Supervise the enforcement of the laws of the State pertaining to
the City, the provisions of this Charter and the ordinances, franchises
and rights of the City.
(h) Subject to policy established by the City Council, exercise control
of all administrative offices and departments of the City and of all
appointive officers and employees except those directly appointed
by the City Council and prescribe such general rules and regulations
as he may deem necessary or proper for the general conduct of the
administrative offices and departments of the City under his jurisdiction.
(i) Perform such other duties consistent with this Charter as may be
required of him by the City Council.
The City Administrator shall be accorded a seat at all meetings
of the City Council and of all boards and commissions and shall be
entitled to participate in their deliberations, but shall not have
a vote. He shall receive notice of all special meetings of the City
Council, and of all boards and commissions. He shall attend all meetings
of the City Council, unless excused, except when his removal is under
consideration.
The City Administrator shall not be removed from office during
or within a period of 90 days next succeeding any municipal election
at which a member of the City Council is elected. At any other time
the City Administrator may be removed only at a regular meeting of
the City Council and upon the affirmative votes of a majority of the
members of the City Council. At least 30 days prior to the effective
date of his removal, the City Administrator shall be furnished with
a written notice stating the Council's intention to remove him and,
if requested by the City Administrator, the reasons therefor. Within
seven days after receipt of such notice, the City Administrator may
by written notification to the City Clerk request a public hearing
before the City Council, in which event the Council shall fix a time
for a public hearing which shall be held at its regular meeting place
before the expiration of the 30 day period above referred to. The
City Administrator shall appear and be heard at such hearing. After
furnishing the City Administrator with written notice of his intended
removal, the City Council may suspend him from duty, but his compensation
shall continue until his removal as herein provided. In removing the
City Administrator, the City Council shall use its uncontrolled discretion,
and its action shall be final and shall not depend upon any particular
showing or degree of proof at the hearing, the purpose of which is
to allow the City Council and the City Administrator to present to
each other and to the public all pertinent facts prior to the final
action of removal.
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, neither the Council
nor any of its members shall order, directly or indirectly, the appointment
by the City Administrator, or by any of the department heads in the
administrative service of the City, of any person to any office or
employment, or his removal therefrom. Except for the purpose of inquiry,
the City Council and its members shall deal with the administrative
service under the jurisdiction of the City Administrator solely through
the City Administrator, and neither the City Council nor any member
thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of the City Administrator,
either publicly or privately. This section shall not apply to any
officer appointed by the City Council or to the members of his department.
The City Administrator shall appoint, subject to the approval
of the City Council, his assistant or deputy or one of the other officers
or department heads of the City to serve as Acting City Administrator
during any temporary absence or disability of the City Administrator.
If he fails to make such appointment, the City Council shall appoint
either an assistant or deputy City Administrator or officer or department
head of the City to serve as such Acting City Administrator during
any such absence or disability.