Except as otherwise provided by general law or this Charter:
(1) Council shall fix the salaries of the City employees and officers and may by ordinance define the duties of any City officer or employee. Neither Council nor any member thereof shall direct or in any manner interfere with or obstruct the appointment or removal of any City employee except an employee whom Council is authorized to employ and remove under the provisions of this Charter or general law. Except for the purpose of inquiry, Council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the Mayor; and neither Council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinates of the Mayor either publicly or privately. Violation of the provisions of this section by any Councilman shall constitute official misconduct. Nothing herein contained, however, shall prohibit any Councilman from bringing to the attention of the Mayor any facts or circumstances which may indicate misconduct or deficiency on the part of any personnel.
(2) The Mayor shall cause to be prepared, and from time to time reviewed and revised, personnel rules which shall be considered by Council and adopted as proposed, or amended by Council and adopted, as in the case of an ordinance, or referred to the Mayor for additional study and reconsideration. The rules shall provide:
(a) For the classification of all City positions based on the duties, authority and responsibility of each position with adequate provision for reclassification of any position whenever warranted;
(b) Methods for determining the merit and fitness of candidates for appointment or promotion;
(c) The hours of work, attendance regulations and provisions for sick and vacation leave;
(d) The policies and procedures governing persons holding provisional appointments;
(e) The policies and procedures governing relationships with employee organizations;
(f) The policies regarding in-service training programs;
(g) Grievance procedures, including procedures for the hearing of grievances, and reduction in force and removal of employees; and
(h) Any other practices and procedures necessary to the administration of the City personnel system.
(3) Whenever it is deemed necessary, except as otherwise provided with respect to provisional appointments, the officer or body having authority to appoint an officer or employee may appoint a temporary officer or employee, which such temporary appointment shall not extend beyond a term of 60 days.