Monterey County Municipal Code Ch. 2.12 County Administrative Officer

There shall be a County Administrative Officer, who shall be head of the administrative branch of the County government.

(Ord. 3610 § 1, 1992; Ord. 2902, 1983; Ord. 778 § 1, 1951)

The County Administrative Officer shall be a person having demonstrated administrative and executive ability as shown by at least five years of experience in private or public employment in a responsible administrative or executive position, requiring the planning and execution of work programs or administrative operations, the budgeting and control of expenditures, and the coordination of varied activities.

(Ord. 778 § 2, 1951)

The County Administrative Officer shall be appointed by a majority of the Board of Supervisors and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors. The County Administrative Office may be removed from office by a majority vote of the Board of Supervisors, provided that the County Administrative Officer may not be removed except after at least ten (10) days' written notice. If the County Administrative Officer so requests, not until after a public hearing at a regularly called meeting of the Board of Supervisors wherein the County Administrative Officer shall be granted an opportunity to speak in such officer's own behalf.

(Ord. 3610 § 2, 1992; Ord. 778 § 3, 1951)

A. The County Administrative Officer shall be chief executive officer of the County and shall be responsible to the Board of Supervisors for the proper administration of all affairs of the County, except as otherwise expressly delegated or assigned pursuant to this Code. The County Administrative Officer shall have the following duties and powers:

1. Ensure that the laws of the State pertaining to the County, the provisions of this Code, and the ordinances, orders, regulations, and policies of the Board are enforced;

2. Attend all regular and special meetings of the Board of Supervisors, unless otherwise excused by the Board, with the right to participate in its discussions, but without a vote;

3. Exercise management and control over all departments, offices, and agencies under the County Administrative Officer's jurisdiction;

4. Advise the Board on the creation, organization, conduct, operation, alteration, consolidation or abolition of the various departments, offices, and agencies of the County government;

5. Establish such financial and accounting records and procedures as will reflect the current financial status of all County activities;

6. Require reports of department activities and the preparation and submission of reports to the Board in response to requests for information made to the County Administrative Officer by the Board;

7. Implement improved or standardized forms and procedures relating to or affecting the departments, offices, and agencies under the County Administrative Officer's jurisdiction;

8. Recommend desirable rearrangements of departments and functions;

9. Conduct continuous research in administrative practices;

10. Represent the County of Monterey in its intergovernmental relationships;

11. Recommend a long-term plan of capital improvements with accompanying financial plans;

12. Direct such central administrative services as are found desirable to render centrally, such as the construction, maintenance and operations of buildings, facilities, and grounds, the maintenance and control of transportation, central office appliance and clerical pools including temporary or seasonal help assigned to all offices), and related services;

13. Direct the purchase of property, equipment, and supplies;

14. Direct the establishment and enforcement of personnel policies and practices;

15. In coordination with the Civil Rights Officer, implement and enforce compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity and Americans With Disabilities laws, regulations, and policy;

16. Recommend policies for the orderly conduct of County business;

17. Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Code or as are required of the County Administrative Officer, which are not inconsistent with this Code.

B. The County Administrative Officer shall be the appointing authority for the following County department heads:

1. Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks;

2. Director of Housing and Community Development;

3. Registrar of Voters;

4. Director of Information Technology;

5. Director of Emergency Communications (9-1-1);

6. Clerk of the Board of Supervisors;

7. Director of Human Resources; and

8. Director of Emergency Management.

C. The County Administrative Officer, with the concurrence of the Board, shall be the appointing authority for the following County department heads:

1. Agricultural Commissioner;

2. County Librarian;

3. Director of Health Services; and

4. Director of Social Services.

D. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, all authority and responsibility as appointing authority for the department heads specified in Subsections B and C of this Section are delegated by the Board of Supervisors to the County Administrative Officer, including the following:

1. The responsibility to implement through line management and day to day supervision, the policy and direction of the Board of Supervisors and the mission of each department, office, or agency under the direction of such department head(s);

2. The coordination of the work between all affected County departments, offices, and agencies, and the setting of priorities;

3. The authority to act in lieu of the above-designated department heads in the performance of their duties;

4. The preparation of annual performance evaluations for the above-designated department heads; and

5. The responsibility for taking and/or proposing corrective action, when and to the extent deemed necessary by the County Administrative Officer.

E. The County Administrative Officer shall not be deemed the appointing authority for any of the following positions:

1. Elected Monterey County officials;

2. Monterey County Water Resources Agency, General Manager;

3. Natividad Medical Center, Chief Executive Officer;

4. Cooperative Extension, Director;

5. County Counsel;

6. Chief Probation Officer;

7. Civil Rights Officer;

8. Director of Child Support Services; and

9. Public Defender.

(Ord. 5113 § 1, 2008: Ord. 5101 § 1, 2008: Ord. 4165, 2002; Ord. 4007, 1999; Ord. 4006, 1999; Ord. 3610 § 3, 1992; Ord. 778 § 4, 1951)

(Ord. No. 5183, §§ 1, 2, 7-26-2011; Ord. No. 5196, § 1, 4-10-2012; Ord. No. 5277, §§ 1—3, 11-1-2016; Ord. No. 5391, § 2, 12-6-2022; Ord. No. 5393, §§ 2, 3, 12-7-2022; Ord. No. 5434, §§ 2, 3, 6-24-2025)

The County Administrative Officer may employ assistants or utilize or coordinate the personnel of other County officers, and may utilize the services of such outside expert facilities and services as the Board may authorize.

(Ord. 778 § 6, 1951)

The Board of Supervisors intends to delegate to the County Administrative Officer, to the maximum extent authorized by law, the authority to manage and coordinate the operations of the County's various departments, offices, and agencies. No provision of this Chapter, however, is intended to vest in the County Administrative Officer the exercise of any duty specifically conferred by law on any other officer in the County.

(Ord. 778 § 7, 1951; Ord. 3610 § 5, 1992)