(a)   The City of Russell, Kansas, continues to operate under the mayor-council-manager form of government, as codified in L. 2015, ch. 88, (H. B. 2104) sec. 10 through 12, and pursuant to all existing ordinances and charter ordinances relating to its form of government.

(b)   The city governing body shall appoint a city manager to be responsible for the administration and affairs of the city. The city manager shall serve at the pleasure of the governing body.

(c)   The city manager shall see that all laws and ordinances are enforced. The city manager shall appoint and remove all heads of departments and all subordinate officers and employees of the city. All appointments shall be made upon merit and fitness alone.

(K.S.A. 12-1011:1012; Code 1973, 1-201; Ord. 1875)

The council shall appoint a city manager as provided by law, who shall hold office at the pleasure of the governing body. The governing body shall be responsible for the manager’s efficient administration of the city’s business.

(K.S.A. 12-1010:1011, Code 1973, 1-130)

The manager shall receive such salary as may be fixed by the governing body and shall give surety bond for the faithful performance of his or her duties in such amount as may be provided by ordinance.

(K.S.A. 12-1013; Code 1973, 1-202)

The manager shall:

(a)   Be responsible for the administration of all of the affairs of the city;

(b)   See that the laws and ordinances are enforced;

(c)   Appoint and remove all heads of departments and all subordinate officers and employees of the city. All appointments shall be made upon merit and fitness alone;

(d)   Be responsible for the discipline of all appointive officers and may, without notice, cause the affairs of any department or the conduct of any officer or employee to be examined;

(e)   Prepare and submit the annual budget to the governing body and also keep the city fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the city;

(f)   Make recommendations to the council on all matters concerning the welfare of the city;

(g)   Have a seat, but no vote, in all public meetings of the governing body;

(h)   Perform such other and further duties as may be required by law or ordinance.

(i)    Countersign all warrants and warrant checks issued by the director of finance.

(K.S.A. 12-1014, 1016; Code 1973, 1-203:204)

(a)   The city manager is hereby authorized on behalf of the city to handle and settle any claims filed against the city and to effect a settlement thereof and make payment thereof, on behalf of the city, in any amount not exceeding $2,500.

(b)   The city manager is authorized to act solely on his or her own best judgment and discretion without the necessity of having council approval in the settlement of the claims.

(Ord. 1355, Sec. 1 and 2)

Nothing herein contained shall in anyway be construed as limiting, restricting or abridging any of the statutory powers and duties of the city manager.

(a)   The city manager may perform the duties of any officer whose office he or she is legally qualified to fill and, in such case, the appointment or employment of such officer may be dispensed with; the city manager shall be under no obligation to appoint any officer to fill any office which he or she may deem unnecessary unless the laws of Kansas or the ordinances of this city require the appointment of such officer.

(b)   If any city officers or employees have not been assigned and allocated to one or more of the departments created by the ordinances of the city, the city manager is hereby authorized to assign and allocate them to such department or departments as he or she may deem proper.

(c)   If any powers, duties and obligations are conferred and imposed on the city by state law or city ordinance and there is no one designated to exercise and perform them, the city manager is hereby authorized to assign such powers, duties and obligations to such department or departments as he or she may deem should exercise and perform the same.

(Code 1973, 1-205)

The manager shall have power to appoint such employees in and for the various departments as may be necessary to the efficient operation of the city’s business, and remove such employees at his or her pleasure.

(Code 1973, 1-206)