Section a. Appointment of City Manager. The Council shall appoint an officer of the City who shall have the title of City Manager and shall have the powers and perform the duties provided in this Charter. No councilman shall receive such appointment during the term for which he has been elected or within one year after the expiration of his term.
Section b. Qualification; compensation. The City Manager shall be chosen by the Council on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications, with special reference to his actual experience in, or his knowledge of, accepted practice in respect to the duties of his office as herein set forth. His compensation shall be fixed by the Council. At the time of his appointment, he must be a resident of the City.
Section c. Powers and duties. The City Manager shall be the chief executive of the administrative branch of the City Government. He shall be responsible to the Council for proper administration of all affairs of the City, and to that end, subject to the provisions of this Charter, he shall have power and/or be required to:
(1) See that all ordinances are enforced and that the provisions of all franchises, leases, contracts, permits and privileges granted by the City are observed;
(2) Appoint and, when he deems necessary for the good of the service, remove or suspend all officers and employees of the City except as otherwise provided by this Charter, by law, or by personnel rules adopted pursuant to this Charter; and authorize the head of a department or office subject to his direction and supervision to appoint and remove subordinates in such department or office; he may appoint special police officers whenever he may deem it necessary;
(3) Prepare the annual budget estimates and submit them to the Council, and be responsible for the administration of the budget after adoption;
(4) Keep the Council advised at all times of the affairs and needs of the City, and make reports annually, or more frequently if requested by the Council, of all the affairs of the City.
(5) Supervise the purchasing for all departments of the City.
(6) Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or required of him by the Council, not inconsistant with this Charter.
(7) Furnish a surety bond to be approved by the Council, such bond to be conditioned on the faithful performance of his duties; the premium of the bond shall be paid by the City.
Section d. Acting City Manager. If the City Manager is absent from the City, is unable to perform his duties, or is suspended by the Council, or if there is a vacancy in the office of the City Manager, the Council shall appoint an Acting City Manager to serve until the City Manager returns, until his disability or suspension ceases, or until another City Manager is appointed and qualifies, as the case may be.
Section e. Removal. The Council shall appoint the City Manager for an indefinite term and may remove him by a majority vote of its members. The City Manager may, within 10 days from the date of such vote, request a public hearing to be held not later than 30 days thereafter. Severance pay will be at the discretion of the Council. The action of the Council in suspending or removing the Manager shall be final and conclusive on everyone, it being the intention of this Charter to vest all authority and fix all responsibility for such suspension and removal in the Council. (6-19-81)