[Amended 11-2-1976, 11-4-2008, effective 1-1-2009; 11-2-2010; 12-7-2020 by Ord. No. 12-20-339; 11-3-2020 by Res. No. 87-20-5205[1]]
The Town Council shall appoint a Town Manager for an indefinite term and fix the manager's compensation. The Town Manager shall be chosen by the Town Council. The manager shall hold a Bachelor degree from an accredited college or university as a minimum degree for the appointment, together with at least five (5) years actual management experience in city, town or county government. Residency of the Town manager shall be governed by RIGL 45-2-15.2.
[1]
Editor's Note: This charter amendment was approved by a majority of the qualified voters at an election held 11-3-2020.
The Town Manager shall devote the manager's entire time and attention to duties as Town Manager and shall not, during the appointment, be actively engaged in any employment, or business, or in the practice of any profession, or hold any public office other than the office of Town Manager of the Town of Coventry.
[Amended 11-2-2010; 11-3-2020 by Res. No. 87-20-5205[2]]
By letter filed with the Town Clerk, the Town Manager shall designate, subject to approval of the Town Council, a qualified town administrative officer to exercise the powers and perform the duties of Town Manager during the manager's temporary absence or disability. During such absence or disability, the Town Council may revoke such designation at any time and appoint another officer of the town to serve until the Town Manager shall return or the manager's disability shall cease. In the event of a search process for replacing the Town Manager, the Town Council shall have the right to extend the appointment of an Acting Town Manager appointed pursuant to this Section, for six (6) months at a time, provided that the Council is engaged in a search to hire a new Town Manager, either directly, or through a duly-constituted subcommittee, or through the engagement of the contracted services of a recruiter.
[1]
On August 1, 2016 the Town Council adopted the 2015-16 Charter Review Commission recommendation that a notation should be made within Article V (Section 5.03) noting the Ballot Question 9 (approved November 2, 2010) as presented to and approved by the voters provided that: "Shall Article V of the Charter be amended to raise the minimum qualifications for serving as Town Manager to a Master's Degree in certain fields, five (5) years of actual experience as manager or assistant, manager of a municipality, and resident within the Town within six (6) months of appointment; and shall any person serving as an Interim Town Manager not meeting these requirements be eligible no more than one hundred eighty (180) days?"
[2]
Editor's Note: This charter amendment was approved by a majority of the qualified voters at an election held 11-3-2020.
The Town Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the town. The manager shall be responsible to the Town Council for the administration of all town affairs placed in the manager's charge by or under this Charter. The manager shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) 
Appoint, when the manager deems it necessary for the good of the service, suspend or remove all town employees and appointive administrative officers provided for by or under this Charter, except as otherwise provided by law, this Charter, or by personnel rules adopted pursuant to this Charter. The manager may authorize any administrative officer who is subject to the manager's direction and supervision to exercise these powers with respect to subordinates in that officer's department, office, or agency.
(2) 
Direct and supervise the administration of all departments, offices and agencies of the town, except as otherwise provided by this Charter or by law.
(3) 
Attend all Town Council meetings and shall have the right to take part in discussion but may not vote.
(4) 
See that all laws, provisions of this Charter and acts of the Town Council, subject to enforcement by the manager or by officers subject to the manager's direction and supervision, are faithfully executed.
(5) 
Prepare and submit the annual budget and capital program to the Town Council.
(6) 
Submit to the Town Council and make available to the public a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the town as of the end of each fiscal year.
(7) 
Make such other reports as the Town Council may require concerning the operations of the town departments, offices, and agencies subject to the manager's direction and supervision.
(8) 
Keep the Town Council fully advised as to the financial condition and future needs of the town and make such recommendations to the Town Council concerning the affairs of the town as the manager deems desirable.
(9) 
Perform such other duties as are specified in this Charter or may be required by the Town Council.
(10) 
Be responsible for the care and preservation of all town property and equipment, except property under the jurisdiction of the School Committee.
The Town Manager may assume, with the approval of the Town Council, in addition to the duties of the office of Town Manager, any other administrative office or offices, or part or all of the duties of any such office under the manager's supervision, but by reason thereof the manager shall not be entitled to any additional compensation.
The Town Council may remove the Town Manager from office in accordance with the following procedures:
(1) 
The Town Council shall adopt by affirmative vote of a majority of all its members a preliminary resolution which must state the reasons for removal and may suspend the Town Manager from duty for a period not to exceed forty-five (45) days. A copy of the resolution shall be delivered promptly to the Town Manager.
(2) 
Within five (5) days after a copy of the resolution is delivered to the Town Manager, the manager may file with the Town Council a written request for a public hearing. This hearing shall be held at a Town Council meeting not earlier than fifteen (15) days nor later than thirty (30) days after the request is filed. The Town Manager may file with the Town Council a written reply not later than five (5) days before the hearing. The Town Manager shall have a choice between a public or private hearing on the suspension.
(3) 
The Town Council may adopt a final resolution of removal, which may be made effective immediately, by affirmative vote of a majority of all its members at any time after five days from the date when a copy of the preliminary resolution was delivered to the Town Manager, if the manager has not requested a public hearing, or if, at any time after the public hearing, the manager has requested one.
The Town Manager shall continue to receive his/her salary until the effective date of a final resolution of removal. The action of the Town Council in suspending or removing the Town Manager shall not be subject to review by any court or agency.