(A) There shall be an officer of the town known as the Town Administrator, who shall be appointed by the Mayor as authorized by the Council. No Council member shall receive the appointment during the term for which the member shall have been elected, nor within 2 years after the expiration of the member’s term.
(B) The Town Administrator shall be chosen by the Mayor solely on the basis of administrative qualifications and experience in respect to the duties of the office as set forth in this section.
(C) The Mayor shall appoint the Town Administrator for an indefinite term. If the Mayor determines to remove the Town Administrator, the officer shall be given a written statement of the reasons alleged. For the proposed removal and the date that the removal becomes effective. In all cases, the Town Administrator shall receive 90 days notice of removal or severance pay for 90 days where the removal is made effective immediately by the decision of the Mayor.
(D) To perform the Town Administrator’s duties during temporary absence or disability, the Town Administrator may appoint, by and with the consent of the Mayor, by letter filed with the Town Clerk/Treasurer, a qualified administrative officer of the town to act in the Town Administrator’s absence. In the event of failure of the Town Administrator to make designation, the Mayor may appoint an officer of the town to perform the duties of the Town Administrator until the Town Administrator shall return or disability shall cease.
(E) The Town Administrator shall be responsible to the Mayor for the proper administration of all affairs placed in the officer’s charge by the Mayor and to that end subject to the provisions of this section, the Town Administrator shall:
(1) Recommend to the Mayor, the appointment, suspension and removal of any employee of the town, except as otherwise provided for by the state law or town ordinance and be responsible for the administration of the town personnel rules and regulations and the position classification and pay plan of the town;
(2) Before the beginning of the budget year, the head of each office, department and agency shall submit to the Town Administrator an estimate of revenues and expenditures where appropriate and a working program for the upcoming fiscal year;
(3) With the assistance of the town’s Clerk/Treasurer, keep the Mayor and Council advised of the financial condition of the town and be responsible for the day-to-day administrative management of the municipal budget and to make such other reports as the Mayor or Council may require concerning the operation of the municipal departments, offices and agencies;
(4) Oversee daily operations of town’s offices, departments, agencies and any capital improvement projects, which may be implemented and keep the Mayor and Council advised of the town’s daily operations and any town capital improvement projects, which may be underway and provide the Mayor and Council with status and implementation reports as required by Mayor;
(5) Attend all meetings of the Council unless excused therefrom and take part in the discussion of all matters pertinent to the Town Administrator’s office coming before Council;
(6) Act as the town’s grant’s administrator, overseeing the writing and management of all grants sought and awarded; and
(7) Perform such other duties as may be required by the Mayor not inconsistent with the state law or ordinances of the town.
(F) Except for the purposes of inquiry and investigation, the Council members, except for the Mayor, shall deal with the administrative service through the Town Administrator. The members of Council shall not give orders to any officer or employee within the administrative service.
(Ord. passed 10-17-2000)
Statutory reference:
Authority to employ town administrator under mayor/council form of government, see S.C. Code § 5-9-40