Agenda - Council Work Session - 03/09/2010

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See Handbook, Chapter 9 Cities must make sure that only ministerial duties are delegated to a city administrator. The courts will not permit the delegation of any administrative power that calls for judgment or discretion. A. Form of government No form of government requires an administrator position. It is most common, however, to see an administrator in a Plan A city. The position is usually created by ordinance or resolution. Sometimes the administrator position exists in addition to a separate city clerk position, but often the duties are merged into a combined clerk-administrator position. Because a Plan B city has a city manager, it would be unlikely to also have a city administrator. Home rule charter cities should consult their city charters for provisions addressing their city administrator. 6. Powers and duties M""' slay. ~ +~'- ~ ~ ~ ~ Since state statutes do not specifically provide for a city administrator, or See Part III-Powers and define the powers of the position, duties can vary greatly from city to city. d°"es. Generally, the council delegates day-to-day responsibilities of city administration. But when the position is combined with that of the city clerk, the position will include all the duties of the city clerk as well. /ewetl Betting ca. v. Duties delegated to the administrator should only be ministerial. The Bertha, 91 Minn. 9, 97 N.W. 424 (1903). council cannot dele ate an administrative ower that calls for ud ent g Y P J 1~ ,~.c. Op. 4>>-r ~o~t. ~~. and discretion, such as the authority to enter into a contract, or hiring and ~ 9c~1 ~ (bad fink). firing city employees. The following responsibilities are among those often assigned to city administrators: • Administration direction. Direct the administration of the city as provided by council action, and state and federal statutes. • City affairs. Coordinate with the city council in administrating city affairs. • Policy recommendation. Recommend adoption of policies that will further goals of the city council and generally improve the quality of city administration. • Loca[ improvements and city projects. Prepare reports and summaries relating to proposed municipal projects/improvements and submit them with recommendations asmay be required to the council for study and subsequent action. • Budgets. Prepare a recommended budget for consideration by the city council. • Financial statements Prepare the annual financial statement and perform other duties as required by statute. 14 LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CTTIES