Article 6. Other Officers of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 6. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 6.

The board shall appoint and fix the salary of a general manager, who shall have full charge and control of the construction of the works of the district and of their maintenance and operation, and also of the administration of the business affairs of the district.

All other things being equal, the board shall appoint as general manager some person who has had experience in municipal engineering or in the construction or management of public utilities.

The general manager need not be a resident of this State at the time of his appointment.

The general manager shall hold office for an indefinite term and may be removed by the board only upon the adoption of a resolution by the affirmative vote of not less than three members of the board of a five-ward district, or four members of the board of a seven-ward district. Before the general manager may be removed, he shall, if he demands it, be given a written statement of the reasons alleged for his removal and he shall have the right to be publicly heard thereon at a meeting of the board prior to the final vote on the resolution providing for his removal, but pending and during such hearing the board may suspend him from office. The board may not reduce the salary of the general manager below the amount fixed at the time of his original appointment except upon the adoption of a resolution by a like vote and after a like opportunity to be heard. The action of the board in suspending or removing the general manager or reducing his salary, if approved by a majority of the membership of the board, is final.

Notwithstanding this article, until such time as the district has operated, controlled, or used works or parts of works for providing the inhabitants and public agencies within the boundaries of the district with the utility services, or any of them, specified in this division, for a period of six months, the board may or may not appoint a general manager, who during such time holds office at the pleasure of the majority of the board.

The board may appoint an accountant, a secretary, a treasurer, and an attorney, who shall hold office during the pleasure of the board.

The attorney shall be admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of the State, and shall have been actively engaged in the practice of his profession for not less than three years next preceding his appointment.

The board may also provide for assistants to any officer of the district who shall hold office at the pleasure of the board and may perform any and all acts that their principal may perform, when authorized so to do by the board.

The board may consolidate any of the district offices in one person.

The oath of office of all appointive officers of the district shall be taken, subscribed, and filed with the secretary of the district at any time after the officer has notice of his appointment but not later than 15 days after the commencement of his term of office. No other filing is required.

Each appointive officer shall give such bond and in such amount as the board may require.

The powers of the general manager are:
  (a) To see that all ordinances of the district are enforced.
  (b) To administer the civil service system of the district and, except as otherwise provided in this division, to appoint to the positions created by the board which are subject to the civil service provisions of this division, such employees as are necessary for the administration of the affairs of the district, and to remove such employees, in accordance with the provisions of the civil service system.
  (c) To attend all meetings of the board and submit a general report of the affairs of the district.
  (d) To keep the board advised as to the needs of the district.
  (e) To prepare or cause to be prepared all plans and specifications for the construction of the works of the district.
  (f) To devote his entire time to the business of the district.
  (g) To perform such other and additional duties as the board may require.

The general manager shall within 90 days from the end of each fiscal year cause to be published a summary of the financial report showing the result of operations for the preceding fiscal year and the financial status of the district on the last day thereof. The publication shall be made in the manner provided in this division for the publication of ordinances and notices generally.

The attorney shall take charge of all suits and other legal matters to which the district is a party or in which it is legally interested. He shall give his advice or opinion in writing whenever required by the board. He shall be the legal adviser of the general manager and other district officers and shall prepare and approve the forms of all ordinances, resolutions, contracts, bonds, and other legal documents connected with the business of the district. He shall perform such other and additional services as the board may require.

The accountant shall install and maintain a system of auditing and accounting which shall completely and at all times show the financial condition of the district and provide reasonable assurance that the financial transactions of the district were executed in accordance with the instructions of the board. The accountant shall prepare all instruments necessary for the payment of demands against the district in accordance with the instructions of the board. The accountant shall perform such other duties as the board may require.

The treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of the district and shall make payments and execute instruments for the payment of demands against the district after determination by the accountant that the demands are authorized. The treasurer shall keep an account of all receipts and disbursements.

With the consent of the board, the treasurer may:
  (a) Authorize the trust department of any state or national bank, or a trust company authorized to act as such, to receive as his agent deposits of any securities acquired by the district.
  (b) Place and maintain for safekeeping as a trust deposit with the trust department of any state or national bank, or a trust company authorized to act as such, any securities owned by the district. The bank or trust company selected shall have a total paid-in capital of at least one million dollars ($1,000,000). The treasurer shall take from the trust department or trust company a receipt for the securities, and neither the treasurer nor the district is responsible for the custody and safe return of the securities until they are withdrawn from the trust department or trust company by the treasurer. Any trust department or trust company to which securities are delivered, either as agent or depositary for the treasurer, shall make such disposition of the securities as the treasurer directs and is responsible only for strict compliance with written instructions given to it by the treasurer. All such securities are at all times subject to the order of the treasurer.