The City Manager shall be the chief executive and administrative officer of the City. He shall be responsible to the Council for the administration of all City affairs placed in his charge by or under this Chapter, the ordinances of the City and Ohio laws. He shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) He shall appoint and, when he deems it necessary for the good of the service, suspend or remove or otherwise discipline all City employees and appointive administrative officers, except as provided for by or under this Charter, in the manner provided by the rules adopted by the Civil Service Commission pursuant to this Charter. He may authorize any administrative officer who is subject to his direction and supervision to exercise these powers with respect to subordinates in that officer’s department, division, office or agency. He shall have the power and authority to appoint various City positions, including the City Attorney, under this Charter. He shall not have the power or authority to appoint or remove, suspend or discipline any member of any board or commission established under this Charter;
(2) He shall direct and supervise the administration of all departments, divisions, offices and agencies of the City, except as otherwise provided by this Charter;
(3) He shall attend all Council meetings and shall have the right to take part in discussion but may not vote;
(4) He shall see that all laws, provisions of this Charter, and ordinances and resolutions of the Council, subject to enforcement by him or by officers subject to his direction and supervision, are faithfully executed;
(5) He shall prepare and submit the annual budget and capital program to Council;
(6) He shall submit to Council and make available to the public a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the City as of the end of each fiscal year;
(7) He shall make such other reports as the Council may require concerning the operations of City departments, divisions, offices, boards, commissions and agencies subject to his direction and supervision;
(8) He shall make detailed monthly reports to Council fully advising Council as to the financial condition and future operating and capital needs of the City and make such recommendations to the Council concerning the affairs of the City;
(9) He shall require reports and information of subordinate officers and employees of the City as he deems necessary in the orderly operation of the City, or when requested to do so by Council or any board or commission of the City;
(10) He shall be the contracting officer of the City and shall award and execute contracts and agreements on behalf of the City in the manner and under the procedures required by this Charter, provided that:
(a) When the expenditure of funds for the purchase of supplies or materials, or to provide labor for any work to be performed under contract exceeds the amount specified by the laws of the State of Ohio for which such purchases or work may be accomplished without advertisement and competitive bidding, such expenditure shall first be authorized and directed by ordinance passed by the Council. The City Manager shall recommend to Council the lowest and best bid, and upon approval of Council, may award a written contract to the lowest and best bidder after advertisement on the same day of each week for not less than two (2) nor more than four (4) consecutive weeks in a newspaper determined by the Council to be of circulation within the City;
(b) Compensation of persons and employees; contracts with persons, firms or corporations for services requiring specialized skill, knowledge, or training; and expenditures required because of a real and present emergency arising in connection with the maintenance, operation or repair of City buildings, equipment and facilities, and City services, when authorized by ordinance adopted by a two-thirds vote of all members of the Council, need not be advertised and notices need not be published as provided hereinabove;
(c) Modifications and changes to contracts awarded under competitive bidding, and in excess of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000), shall first be authorized by ordinance;
(d) The City Manager may designate an administrative officer or employee of the City to act as purchasing agent to award and execute contracts, orders or agreements on behalf of the City, when such contracts, orders or agreements do not authorize an expenditure of money in excess of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000); and
(e) The City Manager or any other person designated by him as purchasing agent shall not willfully cause or allow any contract or order to be split or divided into separate orders or contracts in order to avoid the requirements of subsection (4) above, or the requirements of competitive bidding as provided by this Charter.
(11) He shall execute on behalf of the City all contracts and agreements, except as otherwise hereinabove provided by paragraph (10) of this Section regarding the designation of a purchasing agent, conveyances, evidences of indebtedness and other instruments to which the City is a party;
(12) He shall affix to official documents and instruments of the City the City Manager’s Seal which shall be the seal of the City, but the absence of the seal shall not affect the validity of any such document or instrument;
(13) He shall perform such duties and have such other powers as are conferred or required by this Charter, by any ordinance or resolution of the Council, or by the laws of the State of Ohio; and
(14) He shall endeavor to actively pursue the awarding of grants to aid in the operation of the City.