The Office of Chief of Staff is hereby created by the City of Chester.
[Adopted 12-8-2004 by Ord. No. 13-2004 (Art. 112 of the 1979 Codified Ordinances)]
The Chief of Staff shall be appointed by a majority of all the members of the City Council. The Chief of Staff shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council.
The Chief of Staff shall be chosen solely on the basis of his education, executive and administrative abilities, with special reference to his actual experience in or his knowledge of accepted practices in respect to the duties of his Office as herein outlined.
The salary and fringes of the Chief of Staff shall be fixed from year to year by the City Council.
Before entering upon his duties, the Chief of Staff shall give a bond to the City with a bonding company as surety, to be approved by City Council, in the sum of no less than $50,000, conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties. The premium shall be paid by the City.
A.
The Chief of Staff shall be the Chief of Staff Officer of the City and he shall be responsible to the City Council as a whole for the proper and efficient administration of the affairs of the City. His powers and duties as set by Council from time to time shall relate to the general management of all City business not expressly by statute imposed or conferred upon other City Officers.
B.
Subject to recall by ordinance of the City Council, the powers and duties of the Chief of Staff shall include the following:
(1)
He shall supervise and be responsible for the activities of all City Departments. Council members acting in their executive capacity as Department Directors may execute their direction through the Chief of Staff.
(2)
He shall recommend to City Council the hiring, suspension or discharge of employees under his supervision.
(3)
He shall prepare and submit to the City Council in accordance with the Charter and Third Class City Code,[1] a budget for next fiscal year and an explanatory budget message. In preparing the budget, the Chief of Staff, or an officer designated by him, shall obtain from the head of each department, agency, board or officer, estimates of revenues and expenditures and other supporting data as he requests. The Chief of Staff shall review such estimates and may revise them before submitting the budget to the City Council.
(4)
He shall be responsible for the administration of the budget after its adoption by the City Council.
(5)
The Chief of Staff shall be ex officio Zoning Officer, Health Officer, City Clerk, Officer for the Handicapped and Building Inspector unless such offices, or either of them, are duly filled by appointment; and he shall perform the duties of each such office in the absence of such appointment to either of them. In addition, he shall hold such other City offices or head one or more of the City departments as the City Council may from time to time direct.
(6)
He shall attend all meetings of the City Council and its committees as requested by the Mayor of the City with the right to take part in the discussion and he shall receive notice of all special meetings of the City Council or its committees.
(7)
He shall prepare or cause to have prepared for approval of the agenda, resolutions and ordinances for each public meeting of the City Council.
(8)
He shall keep the City Council informed as to the conduct of City affairs; submit periodic reports on the condition of the City finance and such other reports as the Mayor requests; and make such recommendations to the City Council as he deems necessary.
(9)
He shall submit to the City Council, in accordance with the Charter and Third Class City Code, a complete report on the financial and administrative activities of the City for the preceding year.
(10)
He shall see that the provisions of all contests, leases, permits and privileges granted by the City are observed.
(11)
He may recommend when necessary experts and consultants to perform work and to advise in connection with any of the functions of the City.
(12)
He shall attend to the letting of contracts in due form of law, with prior approval of the majority of the City Council and the City Solicitor, and he shall supervise the performance and faithful execution of the same except insofar as such duties are expressly imposed upon some other City Officer by statute.
(13)
He shall see that all money owed the City is promptly paid and that proper proceedings are taken for the security and collection of all City claims.
(14)
All complaints regarding services or personnel of the City shall be referred to the office of the Chief of Staff. He, or an officer designated by him, shall investigate and dispose of such complaints, and Chief of Staff shall report thereon to the City Council.
(15)
He shall see that all laws and ordinances are duly enforced.
(16)
The Chief of Staff shall keep a current inventory showing all real and personal property of the City and its location, and shall be responsible for the care and custody of all such property including equipment, buildings, parks and all other City property, which is not by law assigned to some other officer or body for care and control.
(17)
It shall be the duty of the Chief of Staff to see to the publication of all notices, ordinances or other documents required by law to be published and to prepare or cause to be prepared all reports which the City or any of the officials thereof are required by law to prepare.
(18)
Establish lines of administrative direction and control for all City departments and agencies, and provide personal direction of all operating personnel through the establishment of administrative lines of procedure whereby he shall recommend the appointment or removal of all City-operating employees, not subject to civil service.
(19)
Act as Chief of Staff and Coordinator of the quasi-governmental bodies, as directed by City Council, to include the Community Development Block Grant Program, Commissions and Civic Committees.
(20)
The Chief of Staff shall maintain an office in the City Municipal Building and shall spend such time in the performance of his duties as may be required by the City Council.