Section 3-1-1 Town Manager
A. Office Created. The office of the Town Manager is hereby created and established. The Town Manager shall be appointed by the Council on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications with special reference to actual experience in or knowledge of accepted practice in respect to the duties of office as hereinafter set forth; and he shall hold office for and at the pleasure of the Council.
B. Eligibility. Residence in the Town at the time of appointment shall not be required as a condition of appointment. However, within six months from the date of appointment, the Town Manager must become a resident of the Town, unless an extension of time is granted by the Council.
C. Bond. Unless a blanket bond or other equivalent coverage is provided by the Town, prior to taking office, the Town Manager shall execute and file an official bond, enforceable against the principal and his sureties, conditioned on the due and faithful performance of his official duties, payable to the Town and to and for the use and benefit of the Town or any person who may be injured or aggrieved by the wrongful act or default of such officer in his official capacity. Bonds shall be in such sum as set forth in Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 38-251 et seq., as amended, and the premium for such bonds shall be paid by the Town.
D. Absence. The Deputy Town Manager shall perform the duties of the Town Manager during his absence. In the event the Deputy Town Manager is unable or unavailable to perform such duties, the Town Manager may appoint such other Town Employee as he deems appropriate to serve as the acting Town Manager. If the Town Manager is unable to make such appointment to perform the duties of Town Manager during the temporary absence or disability of the permanent Town Manager, the Council may designate a qualified administrative officer to perform the Town Manager’s duties.
E. Removal. The Town Manager may be removed by the Council by a majority vote of its members immediately for cause or upon such notice as is set forth in the Town Manager’s employment contract without cause. As used herein and as it relates to the termination of employment of the Town Manager, the term “for cause” shall mean malfeasance in office or willful breach or habitual neglect of duties, as such duties are described in this Section, illegal activity within or without the conduct of this office or any other cause set forth in the Town Manager’s employment contract.
F. Resignation. The Town Manager shall give such notice as set forth in his employment contract prior to resigning the office of Town Manager.
G. Compensation. The Town Manager shall receive such compensation as the Council shall from time to time determine, and said compensation shall be a proper charge against such funds of the Town as the Council shall designate. The Town Manager shall be reimbursed for all sums necessarily incurred or paid by him in the performance of his duties, or incurred when traveling on business pertaining to the Town as approved by the Council; 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 Finance Division.
H. Powers and Duties. The Town Manager shall be the administrative officer of the Town government and shall be responsible to the Council for the proper administration of all affairs of the Town under the specific direction and control of the 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:
1. To see that all laws and ordinances of the Town are duly enforced, and that all franchises and privileges granted by the Town are faithfully observed.
2. To appoint and, when necessary, suspend or remove all employees of the Town, except those officers appointed by the Council. All appointments and removals shall be based upon merit and upon the qualifications and disqualifications of such employee without regard to any political belief or affiliation.
3. To coordinate the administrative functions and operations of the various departments, divisions, services, boards, committees and commissions of the Town government, and on its behalf to carry out policies, rules, regulations and ordinances adopted by it, relating to the administration of the affairs of such departments, divisions, services, boards, committees or commissions. Such powers and duties to be subject to the following provisions:
a. That the organizational structure under which municipal services are performed shall be specified in an organization chart approved by the Council.
b. That prior to any creation, combination, consolidation or deletion of any positions of employment, written job descriptions or amendments thereto shall have been approved by the Council.
4. To attend all meetings of the Council unless excused therefrom and to attend, or designate appropriate Town Staff to attend all board, commission and committee meetings.
5. To recommend to the Council for adoption such matters, ordinances and resolutions as are necessary.
6. To recommend to the Council at periodic intervals changes needed in the Town Code.
7. To keep the Council at all times fully advised as to the financial conditions and needs of the Town. To provide whatever reports to the Council as it may deem necessary.
8. To prepare and submit to the Council a proposed annual budget for the next fiscal year, including financial projections for the subsequent four fiscal years.
9. To analyze the functions, duties and activities of the various departments, divisions, services, boards, committees and commissions of the Town government and of all employees thereof, and to make such recommendations to the Council to achieve the highest degree of efficiency in the overall operation of the Town government.
10. To investigate all complaints in relation to matters concerning the administration of the Town, its departments and all services provided to it by contract with another entity.
11. To exercise general supervision over all public buildings, public parks and other public property that are under the control and jurisdiction of the Council.
12. To devote as much time to the duties of the office of Town Manager and the interest of the Town as necessary.
13. To perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be delegated from time to time by ordinance, resolution or affirmative vote of the Council.
I. Council to Act Through Town Manager. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the Council and its members shall deal with the administrative branch solely through the Town Manager, and neither the Council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of the Town Manager either publicly or privately. (13-04, Amended, 11/21/2013)