There shall be the following administrative departments: finance,
fire, police, and public works; and the following boards and commissions:
board of adjustment, library board, city plan commission, parks and
recreation commission, and board of trustees of the police and firemen's
retirement fund. Nothing in this charter shall be construed so as
to prevent the board of aldermen from combining the police department
and the fire department into a department of public safety.
All departments, boards, and commissions shall have such powers
and perform such duties as are prescribed by law or by this charter,
and if not so prescribed, then such as may be prescribed by ordinance.
Each board and commission may establish such rules of procedure
and organization as it deems necessary, not inconsistent with this
charter, law, or ordinance.
At the head of each department there shall be a director who
shall be an officer of the city and who shall have supervision and
control of the department, subject to the authority of the city manager.
Two or more departments may be headed by the same person; directors
of departments may serve as chiefs of divisions; and, with the consent
of the board of aldermen, the city manager may head one or more departments.
The director of the fire department shall be the fire chief.
He shall be appointed on the basis of his administrative abilities
and his qualifications for the office.
The director of the police department shall be the chief of
police. He shall be appointed on the basis of his administrative abilities
and his qualifications for the office. The chief of police and all
police officers shall have the power conferred by law upon police
officers of constitutional charter cities, special charter cities,
cities of the first class, second class, third class, fourth class,
or of any population group, and by ordinance not inconsistent with
this charter.
The library board shall be organized as provided by state law,
and shall have the powers conferred by law.
The city parks and public recreation program shall be administered
by a director of parks and recreation who shall be the city manager
or someone appointed by him. The board of aldermen shall appoint seven
members to a parks and recreation commission which shall act in an
advisory capacity to the board of aldermen and the director in matters
pertaining to parks and public recreation. The board of education
of the Clayton School District shall be requested to recommend two
of its members as additional members of the commission, and if so
recommended, such members shall be appointed. All members shall be
electors of the city; shall hold no other office or employment in
the government of the city; and shall serve for terms to be prescribed
by the board of aldermen.
The commission shall assist in the planning and development
of recreation programs and programs designed to safeguard and promote
the welfare of the youth and other citizens of the community; promote
and stimulate public interest therein; and solicit to the fullest
extent possible the cooperation of school authorities and public and
private agencies.
The board of aldermen shall have power, as provided by law,
to levy taxes for the operation of public parks and recreation grounds
and facilities, and such taxes shall replace the special tax heretofore
levied for parks under authority of Section 90.500, RSMo., 1949; and
the power to levy such special tax shall cease upon the adoption of
this charter. All revenues derived from the taxes hereafter levied
for the operation of public parks and recreation grounds and facilities
shall be deposited with the director of finance and be subject to
disbursement in the same manner as is provided for the disbursement
of other funds of the city. All monies, properties and records of
the previously existing park board shall be transferred to the city
to be used for parks and recreational purposes.
The board of trustees of the police and firemen's retirement
fund shall continue to function as now provided by ordinance. The
board of aldermen may, by ordinance, provide for changes in the organization
of the board of trustees or in its powers and duties.
The board of aldermen shall have power to provide for a merit
system of personnel administration under such rules and regulations
as may be prescribed by ordinance.
Retirement systems existing at the time of the effective date
of this charter shall continue in force until lawfully changed. Other
employees may be included in retirement systems when permitted by
the constitution and laws of the state.
