The administration of the business and financial affairs of the City shall be under the supervision and control of a City Manager.
1. Appointment. He shall be appointed by the Mayor with the consent and approval of the Council at the first meeting of the Council or as soon thereafter as possible.
2. Qualifications. The City Manager need not be a resident of the City or the State of West Virginia, but he must be a citizen of the United States, and he must have had at least two years of experience in municipal administration or two years of education in municipal administration or its equivalent in a college or other institute of higher learning.
3. Powers and duties. The powers and duties of the City Manager are, as follows:
(a) He shall supervise, control and direct the affairs and business of all of the administrative offices created in Article III, Section 2 of this Charter or which shall hereafter be created by Council under the authority therein contained.
(b) He shall employ and discharge, at will, all other employees of the City except administrative officers and employees in the Police Department and Fire Department.
(c) He shall attend all meetings of Council, and shall recommend to Council, for adoption, such measures and resolutions as he may deem expedient.
(d) He shall employ competent experts to advise with him in planning the improvements of public works, streets, sewers, etc.
(e) He shall supervise, improve, protect and maintain City property and equipment; purchase, lease and dispose of City properties, supplies and equipment; supervise the operation of the various heads of the City; and make rules and regulations for the efficient and economical operation thereof.
(f) He shall act as purchasing agent and purchase supplies and materials, etc, but, however, he shall not make any contract or purchase involving an expenditure in excess of three thousand five hundred dollars without first obtaining the consent of Council to do so. All contracts shall be reviewed by the City Attorney prior to signing. All supplies and materials purchased by the City in excess of five thousand dollars shall be purchased on competitive bids. All proposals for such shall be upon precise specifications and notice of the requirements of the City shall be given to dealers in supplies and materials of the kind required, who, by reason of location, are best able to furnish the same at the lowest or best price. All purchases shall be ordered by the City Manager and only on approval of the Council shall payment be made.
(g) He shall make and execute, on behalf of the City, all writings, contracts, deeds and agreements, the making of which shall be authorized by the Council or by any ordinance, resolution or statute, and, in general, exercise all the powers of the City which are not specifically conferred upon any other officer or the governing body of the City by this Charter or the general law of the State.
(h) He shall prepare and submit to the Council the proposed annual budget, and prepare and make recommendation, by a monthly budget report, to the Mayor and Council with respect to financial and fiscal policies.
(Am. Ord. 1748, passed 6-10-2013; Am. Ord. 2068, passed 3-25-19)