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Council approves first reading of code changes to give city administrator broader operational authority
Summary
On first reading the council approved text amendments that move the city personnel manual under the city administrator’s authority, expand the city administrator’s authority to appoint department heads and create/merge departments, and align committee language with current council committee practice.
The Roswell City Council approved a first reading of a text amendment to the city code that clarifies executive‑legislative roles and delegates more operational authority to the city administrator.
Deputy City Administrator and Senior Vice President Joe Panino told the council the changes would move the internal personnel manual out of mayor‑and‑council approval and under the city administrator so the manual can be updated administratively. Panino said the amendment also would codify the city’s executive structure (chief administrative officer/city administrator, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and chief legal officer) and give the city administrator authority to establish, consolidate or dissolve departments and to appoint or remove department heads — actions currently handled by mayor and council in some cases.
Panino and City Attorney David Davidson said the revisions preserve council oversight for major appointments while reducing procedural delays for routine administrative updates. The changes also update committee language to reflect the council’s current practice of combined committee meetings and are intended to align Roswell with regional municipal norms.
Council approved the changes on first reading 6–0. Panino said the measure was introduced as first reading and will return for a second reading (scheduled for May 27). Council members said they support streamlining and stressed they expect the mayor and council to retain authority over executive appointments to the mayor/council (the CAO and other C‑suite positions are listed as mayor/council appointments in the city charter).
