(a) The City Council, in consultation with the Manager, may create, modify, or eliminate administrative departments, offices, or agencies that shall be under the direction and supervision of the City Manager, who shall appoint the head of such departments.

(b) The City Manager, with the approval of the City Council, shall have the authority to merge one department with another for purposes of efficiency and to establish divisions within a department.

(c) All departments, offices, and agencies under the direction and supervision of the Manager shall be administered by an officer appointed by and subject to the direction and supervision of the Manager. With the consent of the Council, the Manager may serve as the head of one or more such departments, offices, or agencies or may appoint one person as the head of two or more of them.

(d) The Water Department shall continue to operate under, and have the same powers and duties as set forth in No. 184 of the Acts of 1900 and all amendments thereto, and any other provisions of the laws of the State of Vermont applying to the Department, except as otherwise herein provided. The management of the Department, the appointment or removal of the Superintendent, or both, the hiring and dismissal of the Department employees and all other administrative duties required by the act shall hereafter be and become duties and responsibilities of the City Manager. (Added 2013, No. M-9, § 3, eff. June 4, 2013; amended 2015, No. M-19 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 17, 2016; 2017, No. 74, § 112.)