Chapter 2.22
COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Sections:
2.22.020 Administrative head of county.
2.22.040 Attendance at meetings.
2.22.050 Responsibilities for personnel.
2.22.060 Powers and duties--Limitations.
2.22.010 Office created.
The office of the county administrative officer is created and established. The county administrative officer shall be appointed by the board of supervisors and shall hold the office at the pleasure of the board of supervisors as hereinafter provided. (Ord. 1520(part), 2001).
2.22.020 Administrative head of county.
The county administrative officer shall be the administrative head of the county government under the direction and control of the board of supervisors, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. He/she shall be responsible to provide administrative direction and support to agency/department heads. (Ord. 1520(part), 2001).
2.22.030 Powers and duties.
The county administrative officer shall be the administrative head of the government of the county under the direction and control of the board of supervisors. The county administrative officer shall be responsible for the effective administration of all the operations of the county. In addition to the general authorities and power as administrative head, he/she shall have the duty and powers as set forth in the following subsections:
A. Enforcement. It shall be the duty of the county administrative officer to work with the agency/department heads to enforce all laws and ordinances of the county and to see that all franchises, contracts, permits and privileges granted by the board of supervisors are faithfully observed.
B. Authority Over Employees. It shall be the duty of the county administrative officer, and he/she shall have the authority, to carry out the policies and administrative directions established by the board of supervisors, both current and future, and all legal mandates by managing and directing the administrative functions of all agency/departments of the county.
C. General Supervision. The county administrative officer shall be responsible for the oversight of the day-to-day operations of the county and the implementation of the policies adopted by the board of supervisors.
D. Board of Supervisors - County Administrative officer relations. The board of supervisors shall recognize the county administrative officer’s administrative oversight powers when the board supervises agency/department heads. Agency/department heads shall recognize the county administrative officer’s administrative oversight powers when said agency/department heads seek direction from the board of supervisors.
E. Administrative Reorganization of Officers. It shall be the duty and responsibility of the county administrative officer to conduct studies and to recommend to the board of supervisors such administrative reorganization of offices, positions or units of the county as may be indicated in the interest of efficient, effective, and economical conduct of the county’s business.
F. Ordinances. It shall be the duty of the county administrative officer to recommend to the board of supervisors for adoption of such measures, resolutions, and ordinances as he/she deems necessary.
G. Financial Reports. It shall be the duty of the county administrative officer to work with the county auditor to keep the board of supervisors at all times fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the county and to present a monthly report to the board of supervisors on the finances and administrative activities of the county.
H. Budget. It shall be the duty of the county administrative officer to assist the board of supervisors in the preparation of the proposed annual budget and the proposed annual salary plan and to transmit the proposed budget and salary plan to the board of supervisors for approval each year.
I. Expenditure Control and Purchasing. It shall be the duty of the county administrative officer to see that no expenditures shall be submitted or recommended to the board of supervisors except those expenditures approved by the agency/department heads or their authorized representative which expenditures are consistent with policies and procedures as established by the general services administration and are consistent with the county budget.
J. County’s Chief Labor Negotiator. It shall be the duty of the county administrative officer to act as the board of supervisors’ chief negotiator, along with any designated members of the board of supervisors, in meeting and conferring with representatives of county employee bargaining units and shall keep the board of supervisors informed as to the progress of said meeting and conferring. The county administrative officer shall maintain a high level of knowledge of public sector employment law.
K. Investigations and Complaints. It shall be the duty of the county administrative officer to make investigations into the affairs of the county and any agency/department and proper performance of any contract or other obligation of the county; further, it shall be the duty of the county administrative officer to investigate all complaints made concerning the county government and the services provided by the county.
L. Public Buildings. It shall be the duty of the county administrative officer to exercise general supervision over all public buildings, public parks, and all other public property which is under the control and jurisdiction of the board of supervisors.
M. Emergency. It shall be the duty of the county administrative officer to advise the chair and board of supervisors of emergency conditions as soon as practicable.
N. Additional Duties. It shall be the duty of the county administrative officer to perform such other duties and to exercise such other powers as maybe delegated to him/her from time to time by ordinance or resolution or other official action of the board of supervisors.
O. The board may review and change the job description contained in this chapter whenever it deems it appropriate to do so. (Ord. 1520(part), 2001).
2.22.040 Attendance at meetings.
The county administrative officer shall attend all meetings of the board of supervisors unless excused therefrom by the chair or the board of supervisors, except when his/her removal is under consideration by the board of supervisors. The county administrative officer shall, if so directed by the board of supervisors, attend any or all meetings of the planning commission, or any other commission, board or committee created by the board of supervisors. He/she shall inform such members of any matter being considered by the board of supervisors and shall cooperate to the fullest extent with the members of all commissions, boards or committees appointed by the board of supervisors.
A. Discussions. The county administrative officer shall present his/her views to the board of supervisors, but may not vote. He/she shall have the power to appear and address the board of supervisors or any of its boards, commissions or committees at any meeting.
B. Recommendations. The county administrative officer shall recommend to the board of supervisors the adoption of such measures, resolutions and ordinances as he/she deems necessary, and shall make reports or suggestions as necessary or as requested by the board of supervisors. (Ord. 1520(part), 2001).
2.22.050 Responsibilities for Personnel.
A. Appointments. The county administrative officer shall recommend to the board of supervisors the appointment of qualified candidates to fill management vacancies occurring within the county.
B. Dismissal. The county administrative officer shall recommend to the board of supervisors the dismissal or suspension of or other disciplinary action to be taken against any management employee with appropriate documentation.
C. Performance Appraisals. The County administrative officer shall see that all county staff are appraised at least annually. In addition, the county administrative officer shall appraise the performance of all county management personnel at least annually. The county administrative officer shall audit and assure that all performance appraisals are consistent with the respective job descriptions, as well as with all county policies and procedures, and conduct independent appraisals as he/she deems necessary. Draft agency/department head appraisals will be prepared by the county administrative officer for review and approval by the board of supervisors. Agency/ department heads will conduct performance appraisals of their staff.
D. Oversight of County Employees. The county administrative officer shall oversee agency/department heads’ procedure for the hiring, assignment, management, supervision and disciplining of all county employees. (Ord. 1520(part), 2001).
2.22.060 Powers and duties--Limitations.
It is not intended by the provisions of this chapter to grant any authority to, or impose any duty upon, the county administrative officer which is vested in or imposed by any general law or county ordinance in any other county board, officer or employee and in particular elected county officers. The county administrative officer’s functions shall be administrative and not policy-making or legislative. (Ord. 1520(part), 2001).
2.22.070 Compensation.
The county administrative officer shall serve in an “at will” capacity. The county administrative officer shall receive such compensation as the board of supervisors shall from time to time determine. The county administrative officer shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses incurred by him/her in the performance of his/her official duties, including those incurred when traveling on business pertaining to the county. The board of supervisors may require preauthorization of expenses. (Ord. 1520(part), 2001).
2.22.080 Performance review.
The board of supervisors on at least an annual basis shall prepare a written report of the county administrative officer’s performance. (Ord. 1520(part), 2001).
2.22.090 Removal.
The county administrative officer may be dismissed by the board of supervisors for any reason, with or without cause, upon written notice to him/her of dismissal. The office of the county administrative officer shall not be represented by any association or an agent for employees under his/her supervision. (Ord. 1520(part), 2001).