Administrative Service

Section 4.1. Departments and boards

There shall be the following administrative departments and boards: Police, Fire, Finance, Personnel, Law, Public Works, and Public Health and Welfare; and Public Utility, Parks, Airport, and Art Museum. In addition, there shall be a City Planning and Zoning Commission and a Board of Adjustment.

Any such departments and boards may be consolidated or the function assigned thereto may be transferred to other boards or departments, but no function or duty, the performance of which is required by this Charter, shall be discontinued. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Springfield City Charter to the contrary, the city council may transfer a function or duty assigned to a particular office, board, department, or agency by this Charter to an agency of the federal or state government; provided, that in the event such function or duty is transferred, then the City shall thereafter have no obligation to perform the duty or provide that particular function under this Charter.

The city council is authorized to sell the Children's Home, including all property associated with the operation of the home, to Boys Town of Missouri, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation of the State of Missouri, which organization will continue to provide programs, services, and facilities to disadvantaged youth and their families. Upon the sale of such property, all references to the Children's Home as set forth in this Charter shall be deleted.

Approved by vote of the people April 4, 1989.

Section 4.2. Appointment, removal and duties of department heads

At the head of each department there shall be a director who shall be an officer of the city and shall have supervision and control of the department, subject to the city manager. Except as may be otherwise provided by this Charter, all directors of departments shall be appointed by the city manager and may be removed by him. More than one department may be headed by the same individual; directors of departments may serve as chiefs of divisions, and the city manager may head a department, or more than one, with the consent of the council.

Section 4.3. Police department - Establishment; director

There shall be a police department whose director shall be the chief of police. He shall be appointed by the city manager and shall be qualified by training and experience in law enforcement.

Section 4.4. Same - Function; operation; organization; jurisdiction

The police department shall preserve peace and order, enforce the city ordinances, prevent crime, detect and apprehend violators of all laws and ordinances, regulate traffic and perform such other duties relating to public peace, order and safety as the council shall prescribe.

The chief of police and every police officer shall be a conservator of the peace.

The council shall by ordinance provide for the organization of the police department and may classify the members thereof and prescribe their qualifications and duties.

The police department may enforce all ordinances of the city violated within public parks or grounds belonging to the city, but located outside of its limits, in the same manner and with the same effect as if located within the corporate limits of the city.

Section 4.5. Fire department - Establishment; director

There shall be a fire department whose director shall be the fire chief. He shall be appointed by the city manager and shall be qualified by training and experience in fire fighting and prevention.

Section 4.6. Same - Function; operation; organization

The fire department shall protect life and property from fire, inspect all property for fire hazards and require their removal; enforce the ordinances for fire safety in places of public gathering; foster fire prevention and perform such other duties in the protection of life and property as the council may by ordinance prescribe.

The council shall by ordinance provide for the organization of the fire department and may classify the members thereof and prescribe their qualification and duties.