Council to go into closed session to review Brent Trout’s job performance

MASON CITY – The Mason City Council will go into closed session on Tuesday, June 11th at 4 PM to discuss the annual review of City Administrator Brent Trout.

Trout is now the longest-serving city administrator in Mason City history. His hire date was May 29, 2007. His total yearly compensation is:

– Salary: $131,934.40

– Car allowance: $4,800

Trout is likely to get a stellar review from the council. He routinely receives high praise at council meetings from council members and Mayor Eric Bookmeyer and is known to go above and beyond his stated job duties in the city code.  See the code below:

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1-8C-1: CREATION; APPOINTMENT AND TERM

The office of city administrator/city clerk is hereby created as provided by chapter 372.4, Iowa Code. The city administrator/city clerk shall be appointed by majority vote of the city council for an indefinite term until removed or until a successor has been duly appointed and qualified. The administrator/clerk shall be chosen by the council solely on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications with special reference to actual experience in or knowledge of accepted practice in respect to the duties of the office hereinafter set forth. At the time of appointment, the person need not be a resident of the city or state, but during the administrator’s/clerk’s tenure of office, shall reside within a ten (10) mile radius of the city. The city administrator/city clerk shall receive an annual salary in such amount as may be fixed from time to time by the council. (Ord. 93-28, 9-7-1993; Ord. 97-29, 11-18-1997)

1-8C-2: REMOVAL

The city council may remove the city administrator/city clerk at any time by a majority vote of the council on the recommendation of the mayor or on its own initiative. Any removal shall be subject to the provisions of section 372.15, Iowa Code. Except for removal for cause, after the completion of twelve (12) months’ service, the city administrator/city clerk may not be removed without sixty (60) days’ notice. (Ord. 93-18, 9-7-1993; Ord. 97-29, 11-18-1997)

1-8C-3: ADMINISTRATION AND DUTIES

The city administrator/city clerk shall be the chief administrative officer of the city and shall be responsible to the mayor and city council for the proper administration of all affairs of the city. All departments of the city, except as otherwise provided by ordinance, shall be responsible to the administrator/clerk. The duties of the administrator/clerk shall be as follows: (Ord. 97-29, 11-18-1997)

A. Implement all policy directives promulgated by the mayor, in his executive capacity, and by the city council, in its legislative capacity.

B. Supervise enforcement and execution of the city laws and supervise the city’s administrative policies and procedures including personnel and purchasing.

C. Coordinate and direct all city services provided through the various departments of the city.

D. Attend all meetings of the council unless excused by the mayor.

E. Keep the mayor and city council informed on the progress of city projects, programs and policies. (Ord. 93-28, 9-7-1993)

F. Recommend to the council, from time to time, any measures as the administrator/clerk shall deem necessary or expedient for the health, safety or welfare of the community or for the improvement of administrative services within the city.

G. Supervise and direct the official conduct of all officials and those employees of the city whom the administrator/clerk has power to appoint and also those department heads or supervisors who report to or through the office of city administrator/city clerk.

H. Prepare a proposed budget annually in cooperation with appropriate supervisory personnel of the city and all city boards, commissions or other administrative agencies, and submit it to the council. The administrator/clerk shall be responsible for administering the budget as adopted by the council and ensuring all expenditures are provided for by the budget or such amendments to the budget as may, from time to time, be approved by the council.

I. Keep the mayor and city council fully apprised of the financial and other conditions of the city and of future needs. The administrator/clerk shall prepare and submit a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the city within thirty (30) days of the end of each fiscal year and shall provide such other reports as the city council may request. (Ord. 93-28, 9-7-1993; Ord. 97-29, 11-18-1997)

J. Cooperate with any administrative agency, board or commission of the city and act as technical advisor when applying for grants to enable the mayor, city council, boards and commissions to enhance their funding.

K. Supervise the construction, improvement, repair, maintenance and management of all city property, capital improvements and undertakings of the city, including the making and preservation of all surveys, maps, plans, drawings, specifications and estimates for capital improvements except for those activities subject to the management or control of an administrative board,commission or agency. (Ord. 93-28, 9-7-1993)

L. Supervise the purchase of all materials, supplies, and equipment for which funds are provided in the budget and may approve capital and repair expenditures up to five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) for operational needs and up to twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) for emergency needs. The administrator/clerk shall negotiate and recommend to the city council, for its approval, all other contracts for the necessary operation of or maintenance of city services not subject to the bidding requirements of section 384.96, Iowa Code. On all expenditures for public improvements in excess of twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) let for public bid pursuant to chapter 384, Iowa Code, the administrator/clerk shall receive the sealed bids and present them to the council with a recommendation for awarding the contract. (Ord. 07-26, 10-16-2007)

M. Conduct or supervise all business affairs of the city and cause accurate records to be kept by modern and efficient accounting methods. (Ord. 93-28, 9-7-1993)

N. Have charge and control of the police and fire departments, except that the mayor shall take command of the police and govern the city by proclamation upon making a determination that a time of emergency or public danger exists as provided in section 372.14, Iowa Code. The mayor may, at any time, delegate in writing to the administrator/clerk, such emergency powers. (Ord. 93-28, 9-7-1993; Ord. 97-29, 11-18-1997)

O. Perform all other duties as may be required by the direction of the council. (Ord. 93-28, 9-7-1993)

P. Consolidate or combine offices, positions, departments or units under the administrator’s/clerk’s jurisdiction, with the approval of the city council. (Ord. 93-28, 9-7-1993; Ord. 97-29, 11-18-1997)

Q. Appoint or employ, classify or reclassify appointed officials, subject to the approval of the city council and all employees of the city, except for the provisions of the veteran’s preference law, chapter 35C and civil service law, chapter 400, and except for provisions of chapter 372.8, Iowa Code, governing the office of the city clerk and such other officials or employees for whom another method of appointment is specifically provided by ordinance or by state law. (Ord. 97-29, 11-18-1997)

R. Have the power to discipline and to discharge summarily any official, appointee or employee the administrator/clerk is empowered to appoint or employ subject, however, to the provisions of civil service law, any personnel policy duly adopted by the council, and subject to the right of hearing provided by section 372.15, Iowa Code.

S. Summarily investigate, or cause to be investigated, the affairs and conduct of any department, agency, officer or employee subject to the supervision of the administrator/clerk.(Ord. 93-28, 9-7-1993; Ord. 97-29, 11-18-1997)

T. Assist the city council and the planning and zoning commission in the carrying out of the comprehensive plan for city development and assist all other forms of planning within the city government. (Ord. 93-28, 9-7-1993)

1-8C-4: COUNCIL NOT TO INTERFERE WITH APPOINTMENTS OR REMOVALS

Neither the council nor any of its members shall direct or request the appointment of any person to, or removal from, office by the city administrator/city clerk or any of the administrator’s/clerk’s subordinates, or in any manner take part in the appointment or removal of officials and employees in the administrative services of the city. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the city council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the city administrator/city clerk and neither the council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinates of the city administrator/city clerk, either publicly or privately. (Ord. 93-28, 9-7-1993; Ord. 97-29, 11-18-1997)