(A) Creation of office. There is hereby established in the city the Office of City Administrator. The City Administrator shall be the Chief Administrative Officer of the city and shall serve as an administrative agent for the Mayor and City Council in the supervision of the offices and good government of the city. Except as otherwise provided herein, all the departments of the city shall be under the administrative supervision and direction of the City Administrator, and the Mayor and Council shall deal with all departments of the city and employees through the City Administrator.
(B) Powers and duties. In the performance of his or her role as Chief Administrative Officer of the city, the City Administrator shall have the following duties and powers:
(1) Except as otherwise provided herein, he or she shall take charge of and direct the operation of all city departments with the guidance and direction of the Mayor.
(2) He or she shall have the power, subject to the provisions of applicable law, and with the guidance and direction of the Mayor, to employ, discipline, and remove all nonelected employees of the city and members of the Volunteer Fire Department and EMS Department; provided, however, that with respect to the offices of City Clerk/Treasurer, City Engineer, City Attorney, Public Works Director, City Physician, Fire Chief, EMS Administrator, and Chief of Police and police officers, employment, discipline, and removal decisions shall be made by the Mayor and Council in the manner provided in this code book, with or without the advice of the City Administrator.
(3) He or she shall insure the enforcement of all laws and ordinances within the city and within its extraterritorial jurisdiction insofar as their enforcement is within the power of the city and consistent with the policy of the Mayor and City Council. Except for purposes of inquiry, the City Administrator shall deal with the members of the Police Department through the Chief of Police, except at such times the Chief is unavailable.
(4) He or she shall serve as the City Planning Director and shall advise both the City Planning Commission and the City Council in matters pertaining to the planning of the city.
(5) He or she shall attend all meetings of the Mayor and City Council and advise the Council in all matters pertaining to the city and its affairs.
(6) He or she shall recommend to the Mayor and Council such measures as he or she may deem necessary or expedient for the good government and welfare of the city.
(7) He or she shall be responsible for the care and maintenance of all city property.
(8) He or she shall prepare and submit to the Mayor and Council a proposed annual budget, together with his or her recommendations and comments. He or she shall be responsible for the execution and administration of the adopted budget. He or she shall supervise the maintenance and custody of all accounts and records of the city and shall provide the Mayor and Council with a report of the financial condition of the city at such times as the Mayor and City Council may require.
(9) He or she shall supervise the performance of all contracts and agreements to which the city is a part.
(10) He or she shall serve as purchasing agent of the city, and no purchase will be made without his or her approval. In no case will he or she make or approve any such purchase unless the funds for the same have been duly appropriated by the Mayor and Council, and as to those purchases where the amount involved exceeds $5,000, he or she shall first obtain the approval of the Mayor and Council.
(11) With the guidance and direction of the Mayor, he or she shall serve as a public relations officer of the city government.
(12) He or she shall perform any other duties and exercise such other powers as the Mayor and Council may from time to time assign.
(C) Additional powers. With the guidance and direction of the Mayor, the City Administrator may designate such city employees from time to time as necessary or appropriate to assist in carrying out the duties set forth in division (B) above, subject to his or her supervision and direction.
(D) Appointment and removal.
(1) The office of City Administrator shall be filled by appointment of the Mayor with consent of the majority of the City Council.
(2) He or she shall serve for periods of one year for a term corresponding to the terms of the other appointed officials of the city.
(3) He or she may be removed at anytime upon notice given by the Mayor and with the approval of a majority of the City Council.
(E) Qualifications. The City Administrator need not be a resident at the time of his or her appointment, but shall become a resident within such reasonable time as the Council and Mayor may allow.
(F) Compensation. The City Administrator shall receive such compensation and allowances as the Mayor and Council may prescribe.
(G) Requirements. The City Administrator shall take no part in any election held for the purpose of electing the Mayor, members of the City Council, or other elective city office of the city, except for the casting of his or her individual ballot. The City Administrator shall be an officer of the city within the meaning of Neb. RS 17-611 and shall be subject to and bound by the prohibitions therein contained. Before taking office, the City Administrator shall file with the City Clerk/Treasurer a bond in favor of the city for the faithful performance of his or her duties in the amount of $5,000. The premium of the bond shall be paid by the city.
(H) Vacancy of the City Administrator. During any temporary or extended period of absence of the City Administrator, or if a vacancy exists or is created in the office by the removal, resignation, disability, or death of the current or prior City Administrator, the Mayor and City Council may:
(1) Appoint an Interim City Administrator to fulfil the duties of the position until a permanent replacement is secured, or the position is eliminated. Said appointment shall be made at the next regular or special meeting of the Mayor and City Council following the vacancy, or as soon thereafter as may be possible.
(2) The Interim City Administrator shall be appointed by the Mayor and approved by a majority of the City Council. The Interim City Administrator shall serve until the appointment of a (permanent) City Administrator.
(3) The Interim City Administrator with regard to the administration of the office, shall be bound by the same terms as set forth herein for the City Administrator. The Interim City Administrator shall be tasked with all duties, obligations, and responsibilities of the City Administrator as prescribed by the Bridgeport City Code.
(4) In the event that no City Administrator or Interim City Administrator is appointed, or the office is vacant for any other reason, the Mayor shall assume all duties of the City Administrator until the appointment of a (permanent) City Administrator or Interim City Administrator. The Mayor, as he or she deems necessary, may designate one or more persons to assist in the administration of said duties.
(1973 Code, § 1-216) (Ord. 685, passed 9-10-1998; Ord. 801, passed 9-10-2009; Ord. 821, passed 5-5-2011; Ord. 949, passed 1-10-2019)