Whittier Municipal Code Art. VI Officers and Employees

In addition to the city manager, there shall be a city attorney who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the city council.

The city council may provide, by ordinance not inconsistent with this charter, for the organization, conduct and operation of the several offices and departments of the city as established by this charter, for the creation of additional departments, divisions, offices and agencies and for their consolidation, alteration or abolition. Each new department created by the city council shall be headed by an officer as department head who shall be appointed and may be suspended or removed by the city manager.

The city council, by ordinance or resolution, may assign additional functions or duties to offices, departments or agencies not inconsistent with this charter. Where the positions are not incompatible, the city council may combine in one person the powers and duties of two or more offices created or authorized by this charter. No office provided in this charter to be filled by appointment by the city manager may be consolidated with an office to be filled by direct appointment by the city council. The city council shall provide for the number, titles, qualifications, powers, duties and compensation of all officers and employees.

To become and remain eligible for city attorney the person appointed shall be an attorney-at-law duly licensed as such under the laws of the State of California, and shall have been engaged in the practice of law for at least five years prior to his/her appointment. The city attorney shall have power and may be required to:

(a) Represent and advise the city council and all city officers in all matters of law pertaining to their offices.

(b) Represent and appear for the city in any or all actions or proceedings in which the city is concerned or is a party, and represent and appear for any city officer or employee, or former city officer or employee, in any or all actions and proceedings in which any such officer or employee is concerned or is a party for any act arising out of his/her employment or by reason of his/her official capacity.

(c) Attend all regular meetings of the city council and give his/her advice or opinion in writing whenever requested to do so by the city council or by any of the boards or officers of the city.

(d) Approve the form of all contracts made by and all bonds given to the city, endorsing his/her approval thereon in writing.

(e) Prepare any and all proposed ordinances and resolutions for the city and amendments thereto.

(f) Surrender to his/her successor all books, papers, files and documents pertaining to the city's affairs.

The city council shall have control of all legal business and proceedings and may employ other attorneys to take charge of any litigation or matter or to assist the city attorney herein.

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

There shall be a city clerk whose appointment, suspension or removal by the city manager shall be subject to the approval of the city council and who shall have power and shall be required to:

(a) Attend all meetings of the city council and be responsible for the recording and maintaining of a full and true record of all of the proceedings of the city council in books that shall bear appropriate titles and be devoted to such purpose.

(b) Maintain separate books, in which shall be recorded respectively all ordinances and resolutions, with the certificate of the clerk annexed to each thereof stating the same to be the original or a correct copy, and as to an ordinance requiring publication, stating that the same has been published or posted in accordance with this charter, keep all books properly indexed and open to public inspection when not in actual use.

(c) Maintain separate books, in which a record shall be made of all written contracts and official bonds.

(d) Be the custodian of the seal of the city.

(e) Administer oaths or affirmations, take affidavits and depositions pertaining to the affairs and business of the city and certify copies of official records.

(f) Be ex-officio assessor, unless the city council has availed itself, or does in the future avail itself, of the provisions of the general laws of the state relative to the assessment of property and the collection of city taxes by county officers, or unless the city council by ordinance provides otherwise.

(g) Have charge of all city elections.

(h) Perform such other duties consistent with this charter as may be required of him/her by the city council.

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

There shall be a controller whose appointment, suspension or removal by the city manager shall be subject to the approval of the city council, and who shall have power and shall be required to:

(a) Have charge of the administration of the financial affairs of the city under the direction of the city manager.

(b) Compile the budget expense and income estimates for the city manager.

(c) Maintain a general accounting system for the city government and each of its offices, departments and agencies.

(d) Supervise and be responsible for the disbursement of all moneys and have control of all expenditures to insure that budget appropriations are not exceeded, audit all purchase orders before issuance; audit and approve before payment, all bills, invoices, payrolls, demands or charges against the city government and, with the advice of the city attorney, when necessary, determine the regularity, legality and correctness of such claims, demands or charges.

(e) Submit to the city council through the city manager a monthly statement of all receipts and disbursements in sufficient detail to show the exact financial condition of the city; and, as of the end of each fiscal year, submit a complete financial statement and report.

(f) Supervise the keeping of current inventories of all property of the city by all city departments, offices and agencies.

(g) Perform such other duties consistent with this charter as may be required of him/her by the city council.

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

There shall be a treasurer whose appointment, suspension or removal by the city manager shall be subject to the approval of the city council, and who shall have power and shall be required to:

(a) Receive all taxes, assessments, license fees and other revenues of the city, or for whose collection the city is responsible, and receive all taxes or other money receivable by the city from the county, state or federal government, or from any court, or from any office, department or agency of the city.

(b) Have custody of all public funds belonging to or under control of the city or any office, department or agency of the city government and deposit all funds coming into his/her hands in such depository as may be designated by resolution of the city council, or, if no such resolution be adopted, then in such depository designated in writing by the city manager, and in compliance with all of the provisions of the state constitution and laws of the state governing the handling, depositing and securing of public funds.

(c) Disburse moneys on demands audited in the manner provided for in this charter.

(d) Prepare and submit to the controller monthly written reports of all receipts, disbursements and fund balances, copies of which reports shall be filed with the city manager.

(e) Perform such other duties consistent with this charter as may be required of him/her by the city council.

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

Each department head and his/her deputies shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations in connection with any official business pertaining to his/her department.

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

Each department head and appointive officer shall have the power to appoint, suspend or remove such deputies, assistants, subordinates and employees as are provided for by the city council for his/her department or office, subject to the provisions of this charter and of any civil service system adopted hereunder. Any such appointment or removal by a department head appointed by the city manager shall be subject to approval of the city manager.

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

No member of the city council, department head or other officer of the city (except a member of any board or commission), shall be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract, sale or transaction to which the city is a party.

No member of any board or commission shall be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract, sale or transaction to which the city is a party and which comes before the board or commission of which such person is a member for approval or other official action or which pertains to the department, office or agency of the city with which such board or commission is connected.

Any contract, sale or transaction in which there shall be such an interest, as specified in this section, shall become void at the election of the city when so declared by resolution of the city council.

No member of the city council, department head or other officer of the city, or member of any board or commission shall be deemed to be financially interested, within the meaning of the foregoing provisions, in any contract made with a corporation where his/her only interest in the corporation is that of a stockholder and the stock owned by him/her shall amount to less than three per cent of all the stock of such corporation issued and outstanding.

If any member of the city council, department head or other officer of the city, or member of a board or commission shall be financially interested as aforesaid, upon conviction thereof he/she shall forfeit his/her office in addition to any other penalty which may be imposed for such violation of this charter.

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

Any elective officer of the city who shall accept or retain any other elective public office shall be deemed thereby to have vacated his/her office under the city government.

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

The city council shall not appoint to a salaried position under the city government any person who is a relative by blood or marriage within the third degree of any one or more of the members of such city council, nor shall any department head or other officer having appointive power appoint any relative of his/her within such degree to any such position.

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

The city council shall fix by ordinance or resolution the amounts and terms of the official bonds of all officials or employees who are required by ordinance to give such bonds. All bonds shall be executed by responsible corporate surety, shall be approved as to form by the city attorney, and shall be filed with the city clerk. Premiums on official bonds shall be paid by the city.

There shall be no personal liability upon, or any right to recover against, a superior officer, or his/her bond, for any wrongful act or omission of his/her subordinate, unless such superior officer was a party to, or conspired in, such wrongful act or omission.

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)