§ 2-81. Powers and authority.

The chief executive/mayor shall:

(1)

Be the chief elective officer of the unified government and shall officiate and preside at all official functions and events and serve as the governing officer for the unified government for purposes of military law;

(2)

Represent or designate a representative of the unified government at all meetings, conferences, and negotiations relating to policy matters involving other units of government and legislative bodies;

(3)

Receive the reports of the county administrator;

(4)

Appoint and dismiss with the consent of the unified board of commissioners, the county administrator;

(5)

Appoint all members of all standing committees, except the chairperson, and appoint all members to serve on ad hoc committees created by the unified government and serve as an ex officio member of all committees;

(6)

Recommend to the unified government all such actions and adoptions of ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations and policies as deemed necessary or expedient; provide leadership in the communication and interpretation of policy to the public; have all rights and privileges of any in-district and at-large commission member except as provided by law or by the Charter;

(7)

Have the authority to exercise a veto of legislative policies enacted by the unified government;

(8)

Be considered a member of the commission and may vote as provided by law;

(9)

Provide leadership to the unified government in the development of long-range plans and policies and the development of priorities for actions and in planning for economic growth and stability of the unified government;

(10)

Recruit, screen and evaluate appropriate candidates for county administrator and conduct interviews with said candidates;

(11)

Call special meetings of the commission as deemed necessary and in such manner as may be required by rules of the commission;

(12)

Prepare, at least annually, a written message to the commission and citizens detailing such information as determined appropriate concerning the economic, physical and social conditions and needs of the unified government;

(13)

Sign if authorized by the commission and if necessary, all contracts and other documents of the unified government; and

(14)

Appoint, supervise, direct, promote, transfer, assign, discipline, suspend, discharge or remove with or without cause such appointive staff as the commission may authorize to aid in the performance of the duties of the mayor described herein and otherwise determined by action of the commission and continue to maintain all appointive staff and positions authorized by the city council of Kansas City, Kansas, in the budget approved in August 1997, for calendar year 1998.

The mayor shall have in addition to all other powers granted by the Charter, the commission and applicable state law.

(Code 1988, § 2-561; Res. No. R-1-97, § 4.01, 10-2-1997)