Taft Municipal Code Ch. 6 Manager

The office of Manager of the City is hereby created and established. The Manager shall be appointed by the Council solely on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications and ability and shall hold office at and during the pleasure of the Council.

The office of Engineer may be combined with the office of Manager at the discretion of the Council. (Ord. 254 N.S., 2-2-1959)

Residence in the City at the time of appointment, shall not be required as a condition of appointment. However, residence must be established in the City after six (6) months of employment. (Ord. 254 N.S., 2-2-1959)

The Manager shall furnish a corporate surety bond to be approved by the Council in such sum as may be determined by the Council and shall be conditioned on the faithful performance of the duties imposed on the Manager as herein prescribed. (Ord. 254 N.S., 2-2-1959)

In case of the absence or disability of the Manager, the Council may designate some duly qualified person to perform the duties of the Manager during the period of absence or disability of the Manager, subject, however to such person furnishing a corporate surety bond conditioned on faithful performance of the duties required to be performed as set forth in Section 1-6-3 herein. (Ord. 254 N.S., 2-2-1959)

The Manager shall receive such compensation as the Council shall from time to time determine and fix by Resolution, and the compensation shall be a proper charge against such funds of the City that the Council shall designate. The Manager shall be reimbursed for all sums necessarily incurred by him in the performance of his duties or incurred when traveling on business pertaining to the City under direction of the Council; reimbursement shall only be made, however, when a verified itemized claim setting forth the sums expended for which reimbursement is requested, has been presented to the Council, and by the Council duly approved and allowed. (Ord. 254 N.S., 2-2-1959)

The Manager shall be the administrative head of the City Government under the direction and control of the Council, except as otherwise provided in this Chapter. He shall be responsible for the efficient administration of all the affairs of the City which are under his control. In addition to his general powers as administrative head, and not as a limitation thereon, it shall be his duty and he shall have the power:

(A) To see that all laws and provisions of this Code are duly enforced, and that all franchises, permits and privileges granted by the City are faithfully observed.

(B) To control, order and give directions to all heads of departments, subordinate officers and employees of the City, except the Clerk, Treasurer, and Attorney; and to transfer employees from one department to another; and to consolidate or combine offices, positions, departments or units under his direction; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to supersede the authority of the civil service board in the matter of classification of city officers or employees. (Ord. 254 N.S., 2-2-1959)

(C) To appoint and remove any officers and employees of the city, except the clerk, treasurer, and attorney, subject to the civil service regulations of the city. (Ord. 387, 10-6-1975)

(D) To exercise control over all departments of the city government and over all appointive officers and employees thereof, except the clerk, treasurer, and attorney.

(E) To attend all meetings of the council unless excused therefrom by the council, except when his removal is under consideration by the council.

(F) To recommend to the council for adoption such measures and ordinances he deems necessary or expedient.

(G) To keep the council at all times fully advised as to the financial conditions and needs of the city.

(H) To prepare and submit to the council the annual budget and report.

(I) To purchase all supplies for all the departments or divisions of the city. No expenditure shall be submitted or recommended to the council, except on report or approval of the manager.

(J) To make investigations into the affairs of the city, and any department or division thereof, and any contract, or the proper performance of any obligations running to the city.

(K) To investigate all complaints in relation to matters concerning the administration of the city government and in regard to the service maintained by public utilities in the city, and to see that all franchises, permits and privileges granted by the city are faithfully performed and observed.

(L) To exercise general supervision over all public buildings, public parks and other public property which are under the control and jurisdiction of the council and not specifically delegated to a particular board or officer.

(M) To devote his entire time to the duties of his office and the interests of the city.

(N) To provide leadership for civic movements designed to benefit the residents of the city, when so authorized by the council.

(O) To perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be delegated to him from time to time by ordinance or resolution of the council. (Ord. 254 N.S., 2-2-1959)

The exercise of the powers and duties of the manager herein and the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 10 of this title governing the classification of employees, the appointment, transfer, promotion, demotion, removal, suspension, dismissal and reinstatement of such employees and the procedures outlined therein governing the same. (Ord. 341, 12-2-1968)

The council and its members shall deal with the administrative services of the city only through the manager, except for the purpose of inquiry, and neither the council nor any members thereof shall give orders to any subordinates of the manager. (Ord. 254 N.S., 2-2-1959)

The removal of the manager shall be only a majority vote of the whole council; subject, however that the provisions in the next succeeding section. In case of his intended removal by the council, the manager shall be furnished with a written notice stating the council's intention to remove him and the reason therefor, at least thirty (30) days before the effective date of his removal.

After furnishing the manager with written notice of intended removal, the council may suspend him from duty, but his compensation shall continue until his removal by resolution of the council.

In removing the manager the council shall use its uncontrolled discretion and its action shall be final, and shall not depend upon any particular showing or degree of proof. (Ord. 254 N.S., 2-2-1959)

Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter hereinbefore enumerated, the manager shall not be removed from office during or within a period of ninety (90) days next succeeding any general municipal election held in the city at which said election a member of the council is elected; the purpose of this provision is to allow any newly elected member of the council or a reorganized council to observe the actions and ability of the manager in the performance of the powers and duties of his office. After the expiration of the ninety (90) days aforementioned, the provisions of section 9 hereof as to the removal of the manager shall apply and be effective. (Ord. 254 N.S., 2-2-1959)

The office of manager is hereby specifically excluded from the civil service or personnel system of the city, and the manager shall not be entitled to the benefits, advantages or protection of the civil service or personnel system of the city, he shall not be subject to the procedures outlined or prevailing in the system 1 . (Ord. 254 N.S., 2-2-1959)