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CHAPTER 8 <br />Chapter 8 <br />City administrative staff <br />This chapter explores the duties of various city officials, the requirements <br />for qualifying for office, and the problem of incompatible offices for <br />elected and appointed officials. Topics include: <br />I. Appointed officials and employees <br />II. Qualifying for office <br />III. Incompatible offices <br />IV. How this chapter affects home rule charter cities <br />Appointed officials and <br />employees <br />City administration, including Statutory city councils have complete freedom to create whatever positions <br />the duties of the clerk, <br />they find necessary in addition to those required by the statutes. They may <br />administrator and manager are <br />also discussed in League <br />assign duties to these officials and employees as long as such actions <br />research memo Cite <br />promote the public welfare and are consistent with state law. This may also <br />Administration: Clerk, <br />be true in a home rule charter city, depending on its charter provisions. <br />Administrator, Manager <br />(369.3). <br />A.G. Op. 624a-3 (Nov. 2, 1998). <br />Absent specific statutory or charter authority, a city council may not <br />Mttehring v. Sch. Dist. No. 31, <br />delegate legislative or quasi-judicial power. In addition, a council may not <br />224 Minn. 432, 28 N.W.2d 655 <br />delegate any administrative power of a discretionary nature unless <br />(Minn. 1947); Jewell Belting <br />authorized to do so by state law or city charter. Councils may delegate <br />Co. v. Village of Bertha, 91 <br />merely ministerial functions. <br />Minn. 9 (Minn. 1903); <br />Minneapolis Gas -Light Co. v. <br />City of Minneapolis, 36 Minn. <br />159, 30 N.W. 450 (Minn. 1886). <br />Non -elective officers and employees in cities fall into two groups. The city <br />often retains or contracts with independent contractors, such as an attorney, <br />auditor, architect, and others. Their compensation is frequently on a <br />retainer, a contract or some other fee basis. The city also hires full-time and <br />part-time employees to whom the city pays either a salary or a wage. Some <br />cities employ these individuals on the basis of a merit system or under a <br />civil -service system. <br />HANDBOOK FOR MINNESOTA CITIES <br />This Chapter last revised 9/28/2005 <br />8-3 <br />