Title
Resolution Updating City Manager Chain of Command and Succession
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
In 2020, the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disaster caused the City to review all policies and procedures to ensure the continuity of government. The City Manager performs a critical role in the functions and operations of the City government. One important role during an emergency or disaster is the role of local director of emergency management. The local director of emergency management is the official that can declare a local state of emergency immediately on behalf of the Hampton City Council and is also the official that carries out the mandates of the Council during an emergency and issues orders to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. The City Manager is further responsible for performing the numerous duties and exercising the powers as outlined in Chapter 4 of the Hampton City Charter, as amended.
Because it is imperative to have a person acting in the role of City Manager continuously to ensure the continuity of government of the City, a chain of command and succession needed to be definitively established for the City Manager so that there is no gap in the performance of the City Manager's duties. Section 4.03 of the Charter states: "To perform the duties of the city manager in the event of his temporary absence, disability, death, or resignation, the council may, by resolution, appoint an officer of the city or any person other than a member of council to perform the duties of manager until said manager returns to duty or his successor is duly appointed."
Since that time, a new position has been created in the City Manager's Office. It is recommended that in the event of the City Manager's temporary absence, disability, death, or resignation, that the Deputy City Manager act in her place and stead. In the event of the Deputy City Manager's temporary absence, disability, death, or resignation, it is recommended that authority be passed to the senior Assistant City Manager based on the length of his/her tenure, and so forth down the line. This chain of command and succession should apply to all duties that the City Manager performs including any director positions to which the City Manager has been designated or appointed, to include but not be limited to the local director of emergency management.
Discussion:
See Purpose/Background above.
Impact:
See Purpose/Background above.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve the resolution.
Body
WHEREAS, The City Manager performs a critical role in the functions and operations of the City government, including performing the numerous duties and exercising the powers as outlined in Chapter 4 of the Hampton City Charter, as amended;
WHEREAS, one important duty that the City Manager assumes during an emergency or disaster is the role of local director of emergency management;
WHEREAS, the Hampton City Council agrees and acknowledges that it is imperative to have a person acting in the role of City Manager continuously to ensure the continuity of government of the City, therefore a chain of command and succession needs to be definitively established for the City Manager so that there is no gap in the performance of the City Manager's duties;
WHEREAS, Section 4.03 of the Charter states: "To perform the duties of the city manager in the event of his temporary absence, disability, death, or resignation, the council may, by resolution, appoint an officer of the city or any person other than a member of council to perform the duties of manager until said manager returns to duty or his successor is duly appointed";
WHEREAS, it appears to the Council that in the event of the City Manager's temporary absence, disability, death, or resignation, that the Deputy City Manager should act in the City Manager's place and stead;
WHEREAS, it appears to the Council that in the event of the Deputy City Manager's temporary absence, disability, death, or resignation, then authority to act on behalf of the City Manager shall pass to the senior Assistant City Manager based on the length of his/her tenure, and continue to the next senior available Assistant City Manager as needed; and
WHEREAS, this chain of command and succession should apply to all duties that the City Manager performs including any director positions to which the City Manager has been designated or appointed, to include, but not be limited to, the local director of emergency management.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Hampton, Virginia hereby establishes the chain of command and succession for the acting City Manager as follows:
1. That in the event of the City Manager's temporary absence, disability, death, or resignation, the Deputy City Manager shall act in the City Manager's place and stead;
2. That in the event of the Deputy City Manager's temporary absence, disability, death, or resignation, the authority to act on behalf of the City Manager shall pass to the senior Assistant City Manager based on the length of his/her tenure, and continue to the next senior available Assistant City Manager as needed;
3. That this chain of command and succession shall apply to all duties that the City Manager performs, including any director positions to which the City Manager has been designated or appointed, and shall further include, but not be limited to, the performance of the duties of the local director of emergency management; and
4. That the person acting as City Manager as herein established shall continue to act until the City Manager returns to duty or the City Manager's successor is duly appointed.