Vernon Municipal Code Ch. 2.08 City Administrator

The City Council finds and determines that the administrative affairs of the municipal government of the City will be handled more expeditiously, efficiently, and satisfactorily if the City Administrator, acting on behalf of the Council, will attend to necessary administrative affairs, will correlate and coordinate various municipal activities, will compile data, will prepare reports relating to the affairs of City government, and will generally act as the agent of the Council in the discharge of administrative duties.

(Prior code § 2.6)

The City Administrator shall be selected by the City Council.

(Prior code § 2.6-1)

A. The City Administrator shall receive such compensation and expense allowances as the Council shall, from time to time, determine, and such compensation and expenses shall be a proper charge against such funds of the City as the Council shall designate.

B. The City Administrator shall be reimbursed for all sums necessarily incurred or paid by him or her in the performance of his or her duties, or incurred when traveling on business pertaining to the City under the direction of, or with the express consent, of the Council. Reimbursement shall be made only in accordance with an itemized claim setting forth the sums expended or obligations incurred in the manner provided by the Council for the presentation of claims for reimbursement of expenses of other City officers and employees.

(Prior code § 2.6-2)

In case of the absence or disability of the City Administrator, the City Council may designate some duly qualified person to perform the duties of the City Administrator during the period of absence or disability of the City Administrator, subject, however, to any conditions that the City Council deems appropriate.

(Prior code § 2.6-3)

In the discharge of his or her duties, the City Administrator shall endeavor at all times to exercise the highest degree of tact, patience, and courtesy in his or her contacts with the public, with the Council, and with all City commissions, boards, departments, offices, and employees and shall use his or her best efforts to establish and maintain a harmonious relationship among all personnel employed in the government of the City to the end that the highest possible standard of public service shall be continuously maintained.

(Prior code § 2.6-5)

The City Administrator shall be the administrative head of the government of the City, under the direction and control of the Council. He or she shall be responsible for the efficient administration of all of the affairs of the City which affairs are under his or her control. In addition to his or her general powers as administrative head, and not as a limitation thereon, he or she shall have the following powers and duties:

A. General Supervision. To execute on behalf of the Council its administrative supervision and control of such affairs of the City as may be placed in his or her charge, or which are not otherwise provided for by the Council. The City Council reserves the right to modify, amend or supersede any such action taken by the City Administrator.

B. Enforcement. To see that the laws of the State of California pertaining to the City, and all laws and ordinances of the City are duly enforced and that all franchises, permits and privileges granted by the City are faithfully observed.

C. Personnel and Organization.

1. The City Administrator shall establish a manual of the rules, policies and procedures necessary to the administration of the merit system of those appointive officers and employees who shall be included in the system. Preexisting personnel policies and procedures consistent with the merit system will be incorporated into the manual where appropriate. The City Administrator, or designee, is authorized to promulgate appropriate instruction and guidance for the purpose of providing the administrative policy and procedural direction necessary to implement the rules, policies and procedures for the administration of the merit system. The City Administrator shall retain ultimate authority and responsibility for any delegated actions.

2. Except as excluded from this authority herein, the City Administrator is authorized to appoint, promote, direct, discipline, suspend, demote, and terminate, and take other actions affecting, any employee of the City, as reasonably necessary.

3. The City Council, and not the City Administrator, is authorized to appoint the head of each of the departments established in the Code, after receiving the recommendation of the City Administrator. The City Administrator shall advise the City Council of any proposed termination prior to its effective date.

4. The City Attorney, and not the City Administrator, is authorized to appoint, promote, direct, discipline, suspend, demote, terminate, and take other actions affecting, his or her respective staff, as reasonably necessary. The City Attorney is not subject to the powers of the City Administrator.

5. The City Council is authorized to appoint, promote, direct, discipline, suspend, demote, terminate, and take other actions affecting, the City Administrator and City Attorney, as reasonably necessary.

6. The City Administrator shall recommend to the City Council such reorganization of officers, departments or divisions as may be indicated in the interests of the efficient, effective and economical conduct of the City's business, and to effect such reorganization when authorized by appropriate ordinance, resolution or motion of the City Council.

D. Rules and Regulations. To preserve such rules, regulations, and policies as the City Council shall deem necessary or expedient for the conduct of administrative services, and to revoke, suspend or amend any rule, regulation or policy established by any officer, department head, or other person in the administrative services. The City Council reserves the right to modify, amend or supercede any such action taken by the City Administrator.

E. Compensation Plan. To prepare and to recommend to the Council, from time to time, desirable revisions of the compensation plan of the City.

F. Assist the Council. To attend meetings of the Council and its committees and to report upon and discuss any matter concerning the affairs of the departments, services or activities under his or her supervision upon which, in his or her judgment, the Council should be informed, or upon which his or her views or opinions are requested by the Council.

G. Carry Out Council Decisions. To carry out, on behalf of the Council, its policies, rules, regulations and laws relating to the administration of the affairs of the City, its departments, divisions, and services.

H. Budget. To supervise the preparation of a detailed, proposed municipal budget and, together with the department heads, submit the same to the Council before the 1st day of May of each year, and to offer his or her recommendations as to such increases, decreases, cancellations, transfers, or changes in any of the items included in the proposed budget as in his or her judgment should be made before adoption of the final budget; to be responsible for the administration of the budget after its final adoption; and to keep the Council informed with respect thereto.

I. Purchasing. As agent for the Council to exercise the power of approval or rejection of expenditures for all departments, divisions, services and officers of the City government in accordance with the municipal budget adopted by the Council.

J. Recommendations to the Council. To recommend to the Council for adoption such measures and ordinances as he or she deems necessary or expedient.

K. Studies and Reports. To make such surveys, studies, reports, and recommendations as he or she may deem desirable on any matter affecting the interests of the people or City as budgeted or as may be requested by the Council.

L. Council Agenda. To prepare the agenda for all regular, special, or adjourned meetings of the Council in accordance with the laws establishing rules for Council meetings.

M. Mail. To receive and open all mail addressed in whole or in part to the Council, or to the Mayor or to the Mayor Pro Tem by title only, and to give immediate attention thereto to the end that all administrative business referred to in such communications, and not necessarily requiring action by the Council, may be disposed of in an expeditious manner; provided, however, all actions taken pursuant to such communications shall be reported to the Council at its next regular meeting thereafter, or by separate communication to each member of the Council.

N. Financial Conditions. To keep the Council at all times fully advised as to the financial conditions and needs of the City.

O. Investigations. To make investigations into the affairs of the City in any department or division thereof and any contract or the proper performance of any obligation running to the City.

P. Full-Time Duties. To devote his or her entire time to the duties and interests of the City.

Q. Duty of Other Officers. It shall be the duty of all other officers including the City Clerk, the City Treasurer, and the City Attorney to cooperate with and assist the City Administrator in administering the affairs of the City most efficiently, economically, and harmoniously so far as may be consistent with their duties as prescribed by law and this Code.

R. Other Powers and Duties. To perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as are necessarily incident to the powers set forth in this section or as may be assigned or delegated to him or her, from time to time, by action of the Council.

(Prior code § 2.6-6)

The City Administrator shall not attempt to establish general policy which it is the province of the Council to determine, nor shall he or she commit or bind the Council or any member thereof to any action, plan, or program requiring official Council action. It is not intended by the provision of this chapter to grant any authority to, or impose any duty upon, the City Administrator which is now or hereafter may be vested in or imposed by general State law on the Mayor, City Councilmembers, or any other City commission, department, officer, or employee.

(Prior code § 2.6-7)