14-1501.   City officers and employees; appointment, prerequisites;terms; vacancies.The board of commissioners shall appoint, by a majority vote of all themembers thereof, the following officers, to wit: A city attorney, a cityclerk, a city treasurer, a municipal judge of the municipal court, a citymarshal, a fire chief, and such other officers, assistants and employees asthey may deem necessary for the best interests of the city; but no suchofficer shall be appointed until the term and salary of the office to whichhe or she is appointed shall be prescribed by ordinance as hereinafterprovided.

      An ordinance prescribing a salary for any such office or position shalleither (1) fix a specific salary, or (2) prescribe a minimum salary and amaximum salary, and, in the latter case, the maximum salary shall not bemore than twenty-five percent (25%) greater than the minimum salary, andthe salary to be paid shall be fixed within such limits by resolution ofthe board of commissioners but said board, at any time it deems such actionadvisable, may adjust or change such salary within such limits byresolution.

      The board of commissioners may retain a licensed professional engineerto act in the capacity of city engineer for specifically defined duties,and provide for reasonable compensation for the services rendered. Theterms of all appointive officers shall be for two (2) years and until theirsuccessors are appointed and qualified. In case of an appointment to fill avacancy such appointee shall only serve for the remainder of the term forwhich his or her predecessor was appointed.

      History:   L. 1909, ch. 82, § 22; R.S. 1923, § 14-1501; L. 1955, ch. 123, § 1;L. 1959, ch. 83, § 2; L. 1967, ch. 90, § 8;July 1.