Chapter 2.60
TOWN MANAGER

Sections:

2.60.010    Town manager.

2.60.010 Town manager.

A. Office Established. The position of town manager is hereby created and established. The town manager shall be appointed by a majority vote of the town council on the basis of his or her executive and administrative qualifications and his or her knowledge of accepted practice in respect to the duties of the office as hereinafter set forth, and shall perform the duties of the office of town manager under the general and specific direction of the town council.

B. Bond. The town manager shall furnish a surety bond to be approved by the town council in such sum as may be determined by the town council which shall be conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties imposed upon the town manager as herein described. Any premium for such bond shall be a proper charge against the town. Nothing in this section shall preclude the town from obtaining a blanket bond pursuant to the provisions of ARS 9-302 to satisfy this requirement.

C. Ineligibility of Council Member. No town council member shall be appointed town manager during the term for which he or she has been elected to the town council.

D. Absence. Notwithstanding the above, in the event of a permanent or an unexpected temporary absence or disability of the town manager, the town council may designate a qualified administrative officer or a member of the town council to perform the duties of town manager during the permanent or unexpected temporary absence or disability of the permanent town manager.

E. Contemplated Temporary Absence. In the event that a town manager is temporarily absent from the town for any purpose expressly within the scope of either the duties of the town manager or the scope of a written employment contract for the town manager, the town manager shall designate a qualified administrative officer to serve as the temporary town manager notwithstanding other provisions of this title.

F. Removal from Office. The town manager may be removed by the town council at any time by a majority of its members without cause upon 90 days’ notice. The town manager may be immediately removed by the town council by a majority of its members only with cause. The town manager must give 90 days’ written notice of his or her intention to resign; however, upon a majority vote of its members, the town council may waive any or all of this requirement.

G. Compensation. The town manager shall receive such compensation as the town council shall from time to time determine and fix by ordinance, resolution or motion, and said compensation shall be a proper charge against such funds of the town as the town council shall designate. The town manager 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 town as approved by the town council. Such reimbursement shall be made only when a verified itemized claim, setting forth the sums expended for which reimbursement is requested, has been presented and approved by the town council.

H. Powers and Duties. Except as otherwise provided herein, the town manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the town government and shall be responsible to the town council for the proper administration of all affairs of the town under the specific direction and control of the town council. In addition to the general powers as the chief administrative officer and not as a limitation thereon, it shall be the town manager’s responsibility and authority to perform the following:

1. General Administrative Supervision. The town manager shall execute, on behalf of the town council, general administrative supervision and control of the affairs of the town.

2. Attendance, etc., at Council Meetings. The town manager shall attend all meetings of the town council with the duty of reporting on or discussing any matter concerning the affairs of the departments, boards, services or activities under his or her supervision, upon which the town council should be informed. Exceptions to attending meetings of the town council may be granted upon written request by the town manager and approval by the mayor.

3. Appointments to and Removal from Office. Pursuant to the provisions of STC 2.35.020, the town manager shall appoint and, when necessary, suspend or remove the appointive officers and employees set forth in STC 2.35.020. All appointments and removals by the town manager shall be based upon merit and upon the qualifications or disqualifications of such officer or employee without regard to any political belief or affiliation, and in coordination with the appropriate department head. The power of appointment, suspension or removal of the town clerk, town attorney, chief of police, and town magistrate shall be expressly reserved to the town council.

4. Coordination of Administrative Functions. The town manager shall coordinate the administrative functions and operations of the various departments, boards, divisions and services of the town government, and on its behalf carry out policies, rules, regulations and ordinances adopted by it, relating to the administration of the affairs of such departments, boards, divisions or services.

5. Budget. The town manager shall cause to be prepared and submitted to him or her, by each department, board, division or service of the town government, itemized annual estimates of expenditures required by them for capital outlay, salaries, wages and miscellaneous operating costs, tabulate the same into a preliminary consolidated municipal budget and submit the same to the town council annually on the date specified by it, with his or her recommendations as to any increases, decreases, cancellations, transfers or changes in any of the items included in the preliminary budget.

6. Purchasing. The town manager shall supervise the expenditures of all departments, divisions or services of the town government and to act as purchasing agent for the purchase of all supplies, goods, wares, merchandise, equipment and material which may be required for any of such departments, divisions or services, in compliance with Chapter 3.15 STC.

7. Recommendations to Council. The town manager shall analyze and supervise the functions, duties and activities of the various departments, boards and services of the town government and all employees thereof, and make such recommendations to the town council with reference thereto, as in his or her judgment will result, if made effective, in the highest degree of efficiency in the overall operation of the town government. The town manager shall recommend to the town council for adoption such measures, ordinances and changes needed in the town code.

8. Development of Improvement Projects and Programs. The town manager shall develop and organize necessary improvement projects and programs and aid and assist the town council and the various departments and boards in carrying the same through to a successful conclusion.

9. Public Relations. The town manager shall serve as public relations officer of the town government, and follow through and endeavor to adjust all complaints filed against any employee, department or service thereof to the end that every effort may be made to satisfy all citizens that their town government is being operated in their behalf with the highest degree of efficiency.

10. Enforcement. The town manager shall, in cooperation with the police department, ensure that all laws and ordinances of the town are duly enforced, and that all franchises and privileges granted by the town are faithfully observed.

11. Cooperation with Community Organizations. The town manager shall cooperate with all community organizations whose aims and purposes it is to advance the interests of the town and its residents and provide them with all reasonable assistance obtainable through the town government within the limitations of the law.

12. Personal Property of Town. The town manager shall make and keep an up-to-date inventory of all personal property owned by the town and recommend to the town council the purchase of new machinery, equipment and supplies whenever, in his or her judgment, the same can be obtained at the best advantage, taking into consideration trade-in value of machinery, equipment, etc., in use.

13. Consolidation and Abolishment of Town Offices. The town manager shall make, or cause to be made, studies and surveys of the duties, responsibilities and work of the personnel in the various departments and services of the town government and recommend to the town council abolition or consolidation of positions or transfers or removal of personnel, whenever in his or her judgment such action would increase efficiency in the administration of the town government.

14. Devotion of Entire Time to Duties. The town manager shall devote his or her entire work effort to the discharge of his or her official duties. Exceptions to this requirement may be granted by the town council acting upon a written request from the town manager.

15. Additional Duties. The town manager shall perform such other duties as may be required of him or her by the town council, not inconsistent with the laws of the state, this code or the ordinances of the town.

16. Conflict of Terms. In the event that the terms of this section conflict with the terms of employment expressed in the town manager’s employment contract, the terms of the employment contract shall prevail.

I. Limitations Upon Responsibility. The town manager shall not exercise any policy making or legislative functions whatsoever, nor attempt to commit or bind the town council or any member thereof to any action, plan or program requiring official action of the town council. It is not intended by this title to grant any authority to, or impose any duty upon, the town manager which is vested in or imposed by general law or town ordinances in any town commission, board, officer or employee except herein specifically set forth.

J. Council to Act Through Town Manager. The town council is charged with the duty of setting policy for the town. The mayor or the mayor’s designee is to implement this policy by directing the town manager, and the town manager is to implement this policy by directing the staff. The town council has the authority to contact and direct staff, subject to the ability of the town council to curtail such activity. [Ord. 2007-05 § 3; Ord. 2006-06 § 11; Ord. 2004-12 § 1; Ord. 2001-02; prior code § 3-2-5. Formerly 2.65.010.]