Du Quoin Establishing City Administrator Position

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ The Du Quoin City council has approved an ordinance (now on public display) that would establish the position of city administrator.

Both the ordinance, the naming of an administrator and his or her compensation will probably be discussed and approved at the June 22 meeting of the city council.

The Du Quoin council is borrowing from the thinking of many Southern Illinois communities which have adopted either a city administrator or a city manager as a matter of efficiency and cost savings.

The administrators are given the authority to make day-to-day decisions on contracts, spending, bill-paying and personnel. The work is done with the advice and consent of the mayor and commissioners, but this way an administrator doesn't have to wait for the next council meeting or a return phone call from a commissioner to make those decisions.

The commissioner form of government remains intact and if a manager or an administrator doesn't perform his or her job in a reasonable way, they are terminated like any other employee.

At this writing, it appears the council will call on city clerk Blaine Bastien to fill that position. Bastien is already compensated as clerk and will likely either receive a pay increase or an additional stipend for the assignment.

Bastien's career is steeped in supervisory and administrative responsibilities, first in a respected mining career, then in public service. He is the son of Judge Robert Bastien (retired) and wife Verna.

During his tenure as clerk he has had to make many of the day to day decisions the council has relied on, but without his role being formalized into ordinance form. The ordinance being considered is as follows:

An Ordinance Creating the Position of City Administrator

for The City of Du Quoin

Whereas, the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Du Quoin, Perry County, Illinois, find that it is in the best interests of the Citizens of the City of Du Quoin to create the position of "City Administrator" to facilitate the efficient administration of the affairs of the City of Du Quoin;

Now, Therefore, be it Ordained by the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Du Quoin, Perry County, Illinois, as follows:

Section 1: CREATION. That from an after the effective date of this Ordinance, there is hereby created the position of "City Administrator", which position shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council;

Section 2: TERM OF OFFICE. The City Administrator shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council.

Section 3: QUALIFICATIONS. The City Administrator shall be appointed on the basis of education and professional ability. The appointment shall be made without regard to political considerations, race, religion, age, or gender. The successful candidate need not be a resident of the City at the time of appointment, but shall become a resident of the City within 180 days of assuming office, unless the residency requirement is waived by the City Council.

Section 4: DUTIES OF City ADMINISTRATOR. The City Administrator shall:

(A) Coordinate the activities of the various departments of the City;

(B) Oversee the day-today activities of each department through the appropriate department heads; Keep the Village Mayor and City Council informed of the activities of the various departments;

(C) Keep the Mayor and City Council informed of the fiscal condition of each of the City's funds;

(D) Act as purchasing agent for the City within limitations and under conditions as established from time-to-time by the Mayor and the City Council;

(E) Recommend personnel actions to the Mayor and City Council, including original appointment, salary and wage adjustments, promotions, demotions, lay-offs, suspensions, discharges, and other disciplinary actions.

(F) Attend all meetings of the City Council, unless excused from attending;

(G) Effectively and efficiently administer the policies adopted by the City Council;

(H) Recommend various courses of actions to the Mayor and City Council along with possible alternatives.

(I) Promote good relations with other governmental agencies and the public.

(J) Coordinate the enforcement of ordinances and the codes of the City of Du Quoin;

(K) Perform such other duties which may be required of him from time-to-time by the Mayor and City Council.

Section 5: SALARY. The salary of the City Administrator shall be as determined by the Mayor and City Council from time to time;

Section 6: OTHER OFFICES. The position of City Administrator shall not exclude the possibility that the City Administrator might hold other appointed offices within the City, such as City Clerk, or Treasurer, so long as such dual office holding is not otherwise forbidden by law.

Section 7: That this Ordinance shall become effective on the 8th day of June, A.D. 2009.

Section 8: That all ordinances and resolutions or parts of ordinances or resolutions conflicting herewith, be and the same are hereby repealed.

Adopted this 8th day of June, A.D. 2009.

Ayes: 5 Nayes: 0. Approved this 8th day of June, A.D. 2009.