HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993 09 27 Regular Mayoral Statement Re CM
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Mayor's statement to the City Commission on September 27, 1993:
After receiving many telephone calls and conversations with citizens while
shopping, I feel I must address the reorganization of the City staff as
initiated by the City Manager.,
I am not questioning the City Manager's authority to fire personnel or to re-
organize the City staff. My concern is that his actions be done in the best
interests of the City and that it be done in accordance with the City Charter
and City Code. It is my opinion that this reorganization was not accomplished
in accordance with the City Charter and the City Code.
Section 5.03 of the Charter outlines the powers and duties of the City Manager,
and I quote-- "The City Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of
the City. He shall be responsible to the Commission for the administration of
all City affairs placed in his charge by or UNDER this Charter. He shall have
the following powers and duties: (1) He shall appoint and when he deems it
necessary for the good of the service, suspend or remove all city employees and
appoint administrative officers provided for BY and UNDER this Charter except as
otherwise provided by law, this Charter or personnel rules adopted pursuant to
this Charter".
In my opinion, to reorganize the City staff, the City Manager must comply with
the provision of the Charter and Section 4.41 of the Charter outlines the actions
required to properly initiate reorganization steps.
Section 4.14 of the Charter spells out the steps. I am now quoting the Charter--
"Actions requiring an ordinance. In addition to other acts required by law or by
specific provisions of this Charter to be done by ordinance, those acts of the
City Commission SHALL be done by ordinance which:
Adopt or amend an administrative Code or establish or ALTER or ABOLISH any City
department, office or agency".
In reorganizing the City staff, changes are made-which can either ALTER or
ABOLISH positions. My dictionary defines the word alter as making a change, modi-
fying or to make a difference. My dictionary also defines the word abolish as to
do away with completely.
It is my contention that the reorganization initiated by the City Manager did
indeed make changes, therefore it is necessary for him to have an ordinance
prepared and presented to the Commission for proper action.
If we are to undertake a reorganizaiton of the City staff, I believe it would be
in the best interest of the City to hire a professional to analyze the structure
of the City staff including salaries to determine what positions are not cost
effective and whether any of our City employees are properly paid. With this
kind of analysis, the City Manager and the City Commission will be in a better
position to make the best possible decision.
I recommend the City Manager rescind the initial reorganization phase, reinstall
the affected positions into being with their present salaries and to reinstate
the affected personnel to their respective positions until such time as it--the
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reorganization--can be accomplished in accordance with the Charter.
I don't know how to respond to the citizens when they ask what are we, the
elected officials doing. How do you respond?