Article 3 Executive and Administrative Powers

The executive and administrative powers, authority and duties, not otherwise provided for herein, shall be distributed among at least five (5) departments as follows:

(a) Department of Public Affairs

(b) Department of Finance and Administration

(c) Department of Public Safety

(d) Department of Public Utilities

(e) Department of Public Works

Bureaus and their functions shall be fixed by the Council by ordinance. The distribution of the bureaus and work among departments shall be made and may be changed from time to time by the Mayor by order which shall be filed and preserved as an ordinance. The names of the departments may be changed in like manner. The Mayor may in like manner assign matters relating to any commission to a particular department. [May 3, 1913, part of new sec. 36; rev. 1914, sec. 54; 1928 pub., sec. 54; 1942 recod., sec. 2-201; rev. Nov. 6, 1962.]

At the first regular meeting after the election of any Council member, the Mayor shall designate one member to be Commissioner In Charge of each department, who shall thereafter be designated as Commissioner of such department, which designation may be changed and a transfer of Commissioners from one department to another be made, whenever it appears that the public service will be benefitted thereby. Such assignment shall be made by the Mayor by order which shall be filed and preserved as an ordinance. The Commissioner In Charge of each department shall have the supervision and control of all the affairs and property which belong to that department, subject to the provisions of this Charter and to such regulation as may be prescribed by the Council. [May 3, 1913, new sec. 37; rev. 1914, secs. 55 and 56; 1928 pub., secs. 55 and 56; 1942 recod., sec. 2-202; rev. Nov. 6, 1962.]

The Council shall prescribe the powers and duties of officers and employees, may assign particular officers to one or more of the departments and may require an officer or employee to perform duties in two or more departments. The Council shall make such rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper for the efficient and economical conduct of the business of the City. [May 3, 1913, part of new sec. 36; rev. 1914, sec. 57; 1928 pub., sec. 57; 1942 recod., sec. 2-203; rev. Nov. 6, 1962.]

Codes providing for the administration of the powers, duties and affairs of the different departments and for their organization shall be enacted. Such codes shall provide for a uniform standard for the purchase of materials and supplies and shall provide for a purchasing agent and may provide for inspection and testing of the quality and quantity of the materials and supplies purchased to determine their exact conformity to specifications. Provision shall be made for the transfer of employees from one department to another. Methods shall be provided by which the heads of departments may determine and compare the work accomplished by the department with reference to its expenditures and a comparison with work during a prior period. A definite system of accounting shall be provided for each department showing the work performed and the material furnished compared with the cost thereof, so itemized that it can be determined whether each department is becoming more efficient or less efficient. All materials and supplies of the City shall be properly housed, segregated and tabulated and a perpetual inventory kept showing the additions and depletions thereof. Each department shall report its time and expenses for comparison with the prior month and prior year to show percentage of increase or decrease and shall also report stores and material accounts for like comparison. [May 3, 1913, part of new sec. 36; rev. 1914, sec. 58; 1928 pub., sec. 58; 1942 recod., sec. 2-204; rev. Nov. 6, 1962.]