1999-12-08 Charter Commission Minutes

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minutes 12-08-99Page 20 of 31 M. HERKES: I suspect that it’s in an ordinance because the Council gets to play with it every time. This is a City Manager that is hired for how many years? She’s hired for how many years? J. OTTERSON: Hired for as long as he wants to be there, as long as he does a good job. M. HERKES: And then the Council can get rid of her? J. OTTERSON: The Council has the power to get rid of him. Yes. M. HERKES: Okay. The Council hires and the Council fires. J. OTTERSON: Yes. M. HERKES: Okay. How does this City Manager get along with the Mayor? What does the Mayor do? J. OTTERSON: I’ve got that here, too. M. HERKES: Well, I can read it. I want your perceptions. J. OTTERSON: The Mayor, he, more or less, takes complaints. He takes complaints of people that, like for instance - M. HERKES: And solves problems. J. OTTERSON: If he wanted to get rid of a junk yard, or whatever, he would take the complaint, turn it over to the Director, or the department, that took care of those. He signs bonds. At the Council meetings, he does the chairing. M. HERKES: So, he’s the Chair of the Council? J. OTTERSON; He’s Chairman of the Council. RAY: Is he a voting Chair of the Council or does he just preside over it? J. OTTERSON: If there’s a tie with the Council, he’s able to vote. Other than that, he’s not able to vote. M. HERKES: And you think this works well in Riverside? J. OTTERSON: Pardon? M. HERKES: And this works well in Riverside? J. OTTERSON: Yes, it does. Yes, it does. M. HERKES: Well, that’s good. RAY: Jim, is the Mayor sort of a super Council person, or is he elected separately as the Mayor? J. OTTERSON: He is elected at-large. With Riverside, they have different wards. They have seven wards. RAY: Seven wards. So, you have one Council person per ward, single member, and then the Mayor is elected at-large? J. OTTERSON: Yes, right. RAY: Is the Mayor a full-time position? file://\\coh01\cohweb\council\charter_commission\minutes\minutes 12-08-99.html7/1/2011