The Council may, by ordinance, create, alter, or abolish and prescribe the functions of the City departments, agencies, and offices, not inconsistent with the general laws or this Charter, and designate department heads from City Council.
The Council may, by ordinance, adopt an Administrative Code which shall provide for the administrative organization of the City government, the assignment of duties and responsibilities to officers and employees, and procedural requirements set forth in the general laws or in the Charter. All changes in organization and procedures set forth in the Administrative Code shall be effected by amendment to the Administrative Code in the same manner as other ordinances are enacted and amended.
At the annual organizational meeting of Council, the Mayor may assign to each Council member a responsibility as department head of one or more departments or agencies of the City government. Council shall act as a body in formulating programs and policies of all departments and agencies of the City government, which policies and programs shall be implemented through the Administrative Code, other ordinances of Council, or departmental regulations approved by Council.
The Council may create, modify, or abolish boards, commissions, authorities, or other agencies and special committees of the City government if not inconsistent with general laws or this Charter. The Council may appoint by a majority vote of its total membership, subject to Section 203, the members of such agencies if not otherwise provided by this Charter or general law.
The Mayor, with the approval of Council, may appoint a qualified person to serve as Director of Personnel. The Director of Personnel will be responsible for the functions of personnel administration as may be set forth in the Administrative Code or other ordinance.
The compensation of all officers, if not otherwise provided in this Charter, shall be set by Council in the Administrative Code or other ordinance, and may be changed from time to time by amendment of the same at the discretion of the Council. Compensation of employees other than officers shall be in accordance with the pay plan established under the Administrative Code.
The Council shall, on the first Monday of January, one thousand nine hundred and eighty-one, and on the first Monday of January every fourth year thereafter, or as soon thereafter as practicable in each of said years, appoint a City Solicitor, who shall be learned in the law and admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth, and shall maintain an office in the City. He shall serve for a term of four years from the said first Monday of January and until his successor is qualified. He shall receive a fixed annual salary to be provided by ordinance. He shall give lawful bond to the City, with a surety or other company authorized by law to act as surety, to be approved by Council, in such sum as they shall by ordinance direct, conditioned for the faithful performance of his official duties. Vacancies in said office shall be filled by Council for the unexpired term.
Council may appoint one or more Assistant City Solicitors whose term of office shall be concurrent with that of the City Solicitor, and whose compensation shall be fixed by resolution, and who shall assist the Solicitor in the performance of all duties prescribed for him.
Council may, at its discretion, retain special counsel for particular proceedings or matters of the City and fix his compensation by resolution.
All duties, obligations, and other matters pertaining to the Solicitors and to special counsel shall be as set forth in the Administrative Code.
The Mayor, with the approval of the majority of the total membership of the Council, shall appoint and fix the compensation of a City Engineer who shall be a professional civil engineer registered in Pennsylvania, or an engineering firm similarly registered. The City Engineer or engineering firm shall perform the duties required by the Council through the Administrative Code or other action, or as may be required of a City Engineer by general law.
The Mayor, with the approval of the majority of the total membership of the Council, shall appoint a Director of Planning, who shall be qualified by education and/or experience in city planning and zoning, to direct the planning and zoning of the City and to perform such duties as prescribed for such officer in this Charter and as the Council may require in the Administrative Code or other ordinance.
Council may appoint a Treasurer to perform such functions and receive such salary as shall be set forth in the Administrative Code or by ordinance.
Council shall appoint a Civil Service Commission pursuant to the authority vested in Section 604 of this Charter. In no event shall the members of said Commission be members of City Council nor be a member of any of the departments over which the Commission has control.