Article 4. Other Offices of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 10. >> Part 10. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 4.

The board may, by an affimative vote of the majority of its members, appoint and fix the salary of a general manager, who shall have the responsibility for the proper administration of the district in accordance with state law and such ordinances, resolutions and policies as may be established by the board. The general manager shall not be a member of the board, nor shall he have been a member of the board within the year immediately preceding his appointment.

The general manager may be removed by the board upon the adoption of a resolution by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the board. 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. 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.

The oath 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 board shall establish by resolution the powers and duties of the general manager.

The general manager shall prepare, within 90 days from the end of each fiscal year, a financial report showing the result of operations for the preceding fiscal year and the financial status of the district on the last day thereof. A copy of this report shall be delivered to the board of supervisors, each city council within the district, and a copy shall be made available to the public.

At least 30 days prior to the end of the fiscal year, the general manager shall prepare a proposed annual budget for the district. Prior to the time this budget is formally adopted by the board, copies thereof will be sent to the board of supervisors and each city council within the district.

The general manager shall provide for the custody of the funds of the district and the keeping of accounts of all receipts and disbursements. Payments shall be made only upon warrants duly and regularly signed by the chairperson or vice chairperson of the board, or other person authorized by the board to do so, and by the general manager or secretary. Alternatively, the board may request the Auditor of the County of Santa Cruz to audit, allow, and draw warrants on the district treasury for all legal claims presented to the county auditor and approved by a majority of the board, and the treasurer shall pay those warrants in the order in which they are presented.

With the consent of the board, the general manager may:
  (a) Authorize the trust department of any state or national bank in this state, or a trust company authorized to act as such in this state, 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 banks in this state, or a trust company authorized to act as such in this state, 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 general manager shall take from the trust department or trust company a receipt for the securities, and neither the general manager 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 general manager. Any trust department or trust company to which securities are delivered, either as agent or depository for the general manager, shall make such deposition of the securities as the general manager directs and is responsible only for strict compliance with written instructions given to it by the general manager. All such securities are at times subject to the order of the general manager.

The board may appoint a regular attorney who shall serve at the pleasure of the board or it may engage an attorney from time to time as the need arises. If they declare themselves available, the county counsel or the attorneys for any of the cities within the district shall be eligible to provide legal advice to the board at a reasonable rate of compensation.