Sec. 24. Powers and duties of city manager.
The city manager shall be responsible to the council for the efficient administration of all affairs of the city. He shall have the power, and it shall be his duty:
A. To see that all laws and ordinances are duly enforced, and he is hereby declared to be beneficially interested in their enforcement and to have the power to sue in the proper court to enforce them.
B. Subject to the consent and approval, by resolution adopted by a majority of the members of the city council, the city manager shall have power and it shall be his duty to appoint, discipline or remove the following officials: Assessor. treasurer, tax and license collector, director of public works or city engineer, chief of police, fire chief, street superintendent, park superintendent, director of recreation and such other heads of departments or officials determined by the city council. All subordinate officers and employees of the city shall be appointed and be subject to discipline or removal by the city manager and neither the council nor any of its committees or members shall dictate, either directly or indirectly, the appointment, discipline or removal of any such subordinate officials or employees of the city appointed by the city manager, or in any manner interfere with him or prevent him from exercising his own judgment in the appointment, discipline or removal of such subordinate officer or employee in the administrative service. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the city manager, and neither the council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any of the subordinates of the city manager, including said officers, department heads, subordinate officers and employees, either publicly or privately.
C. To exercise administrative control over all departments, divisions and bureaus of the city government and over all appointed officers and employees thereof.
D. Except when the council is considering his removal, to attend all regular meetings of the council, and its committees, with the right to take part in discussions, but without power to vote. He shall receive notice of all special meetings.
E. To recommend to the council for adoption such measures and ordinances as he may deem necessary or expedient.
F. To make investigations into the affairs of the city, or any department or division thereof, or any contract, or the proper performance of any obligation running to the city.
G. To prepare and submit to the council the annual budget.
H. To keep the council at all times fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the city.
I. To submit to the council, at each meeting, for its approval, a list of all claims and bills approved for payment by him.
J. To devote his entire time to the duties and interests of the city.
K. To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter, or be required by ordinance or resolution of the council.
He shall be charged with the general supervision of all public utility companies insofar as they are subject to municipal control; he shall keep himself fully informed as to their compliance in all respects with the law and he shall see that all franchises granted by the city are faithfully observed; he shall cause to be instituted such actions or proceedings as may be necessary to prosecute public utility companies for violations of law, and revoke, cancel or annul all franchises that may have been granted by the city to any person, firm or corporation, which have become forfeitable in whole or in part, or which for any reason are illegal and void and not binding upon the city. The city attorney on demand of the city manager must institute and prosecute the necessary actions to enforce the provisions of this subsection.