(a) 
Composition. There shall be a City Manager who shall be the chief administrative officer of the City.
(b) 
Term. The City Manager 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 the person occupying the office shall not be removed from office except as herein provided.
(c) 
Eligibility. The City Manager shall be chosen on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications, with special reference to actual experience in and knowledge of accepted practice as regards the duties of the office as herein set forth. No person shall be eligible to be appointed City Manager or Acting City Manager while serving as a member of the City Council nor within one year following the termination of membership on the City Council.
(d) 
Removal. The City Manager shall not be removed from office during or within a period of ninety days next succeeding any municipal election at which a member of the City Council is elected. At any other time the City Manager may be removed only at a regular meeting of the City Council and upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the City Council. At least thirty days prior to the effective date of removal, the City Manager shall be furnished with a written notice stating the Council's intentions and, if requested by the City Manager, the reasons therefor. Within seven days after receipt of such notice, the City Manager 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 thirty-day period above referred to. The City Manager shall appear and be heard at such hearing. After furnishing the City Manager with written notice of the intended removal, the City Council may suspend the City Manager from duty, but his compensation shall continue until removal as herein provided. In removing the City Manager, 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 Manager 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, the City Manager shall be responsible to the City Council for the proper administration of all affairs of the City. Without limiting this general grant of powers and responsibilities, the City Manager shall have the power and be required to:
(a) 
Appoint, promote, demote, suspend or remove department heads, officers and employees of the City except elective officers and the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police shall not be appointed or removed until the City Manager shall first have reviewed such appointment or removal with the City Council and have received approval for such appointment or removal by a majority vote of the full City Council.
(b) 
Prepare the budget annually, submit it to the City Council, and be responsible for its administration upon 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, 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 seem desirable.
(e) 
Maintain a centralized purchasing system for all City offices, departments and agencies.
(f) 
Prepare, administer and enforce rules and regulations recommended to and adopted by the City Council governing the contracting for, purchase, inspection, storage, inventory, distribution and disposal of all supplies, materials and equipment required by any office, department or agency of the City government.
(g) 
Be responsible for the compliance by the City with the laws of the State pertaining to the City, the provisions of this Charter and the ordinances, franchises and rights of the City.
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, and prescribe such general rules and regulations as deemed necessary or proper for the general conduct of the administrative offices and departments of the City under their jurisdiction.
(h) 
Perform such other duties consistent with this Charter as may be required by the City Council.
During any temporary absence or disability of the City Manager, the City Manager shall appoint one of the other officers or department heads of the City to serve as Acting City Manager. In the event the City Manager fails to make such appointment, such appointment may be made by the City Council.
In addition to the City Council, a City Clerk, a City Treasurer, a City Attorney and City Manager, the officers and employees of the City shall consist of such other officers, assistants, deputies and employees as the City Council may provide by ordinance or resolution. The City Council shall establish such reasonable compensation and fringe benefits as are appropriate by ordinance or resolution for such offices, officials and employees except as herein provided.
The City Council shall maintain by ordinance a comprehensive personnel system for the City. The City Manager and any officers designated as elective by the Charter shall be exempt. The system shall consist of the establishment of minimum standards of employment and qualifications for the various classes of employment and procedures to be followed in advancement, demotion, suspension and discharge of employees included within the system, as the City Council shall determine to be for the best interest of the public service. The ordinance shall designate the appointive officers and employees who shall be included within the system. By subsequent ordinances the City Council may amend the system or the list of appointive officers and employees included within the system. The system shall comply with all other provisions of this Charter.
It shall be the duty of all department heads, whether appointed or elected, to assist and cooperate with the City Manager in administering the affairs of the City in the most efficient, fiscally responsible, and harmonious manner consistent with the duties as prescribed by law, City Charter, or by ordinance.
The City Council shall establish such boards, commissions and committees as are deemed necessary for the orderly functioning of the City. All such boards, commissions and committees shall report directly to the City Council.