(A) The chief administrative officer of the county shall be the county manager, who shall not be a member of the Council. The officer shall have powers, duties and functions in the administration of the county government, in addition to those provided by the Home Rule Act, as may be provided by ordinance or resolution of the Council relating to the organization of county government. The county manager shall serve for an indefinite time, and the salary and other conditions of employment shall be set by the Council. The county manager shall report and be responsible to the Council on all matters pertaining to the policy and directives of the Council in respect to county government. In addition to any other duties and responsibilities which may be prescribed by the Council in an ordinance or resolution relating to the organization of county government, the county manager shall have the following duties and responsibilities: to attend all meetings of the Council, regular and special; to prepare and present agendas for all regular and special meetings and meetings of standing committees, and to mail and deliver to the members all notices of meetings as are required by law and these rules; to be the custodian of the corporate seal and all records of the Council; to attest the signature of the chairperson on all ordinances, resolutions and directives of the Council, and to sign with the chairperson all deeds, leases, bonds, contracts and other legal instruments affecting the county; to conduct official correspondence on behalf of the chairperson and the Council; to assist the Council in the execution and implementation of its policies and programs; to prepare an annual budget for adoption by the Council; to keep the Council advised regarding the financial condition and administrative activities of the county; to administer all ordinances and resolutions and to see to the faithful execution of all orders and directives of the Council; to examine regularly all accounts, records, personnel policies and operations of each department, office and agency of the county government and to report to the Council in connection therewith; to make recommendations to the Council on all matters concerning county affairs; to be responsible for the care and custody of all county property and to account therefor to the Council; to record all deeds, contracts, plats or other legal instruments; to assist the Council in the execution and implementation of its policies and programs and to perform other duties as may from time to time be assigned to officer by the Council acting through the chairperson.
(B) With the exception of emergency ordinances and ordinances or resolutions submitted by a councilmember, regarding any item initially placed on a proposed agenda, the Chairperson may, as a matter of discretion, defer any such item, matter, resolution or proposed ordinances so placed on the proposed agenda to a future meeting occurring after the meeting for the proposed initial placement, or as an additional matter of discretion refer the item, matter, resolution or proposed ordinance so placed to an appropriate standing committee for review, consideration, and recommendation. Any item, matter, resolution or proposed ordinance deferred from a proposed agenda shall be immediately placed on a future meeting agenda for consideration by Council by request of two members of Council or by the county manager, unless withdrawn by the proposing party. Any item, matter, resolution of proposed ordinance referred to committee shall be placed on a succeeding agenda for consideration of Council upon a favorable report from the committee or immediately upon recall by the Chairperson or any three members of Council. Under this provision, any item, matter, resolution or proposed ordinance shall be acted upon by the standing committee within six weeks of the referral.
(C) The chief administrative officer shall be the same person designated to act as county manager. Upon the death, resignation or absence of the county manager, the County Council may designate some person to perform the duties of chief administrative officer of the county on a temporary basis.
(‘77 Code, § 2-23) (Ord. 4, passed 2-7-77; Am. Ord. 12, passed 5-2-77; Am. Ord. 2113, passed 6-3-13)