The City Manager

Norfolk City Charter pt. The City Manager

in effect

Norfolk City Charter § 49 Appointment, qualifications, etc.

Sec. 49. - Appointment, qualifications, etc. The city manager shall be the administrative head of the municipal government. He shall be chosen by the council without regard to his political beliefs, and solely upon the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications. The choice shall not be limited to inhabitants of the city or state, unless otherwise required by the Constitution of the state. The city manager shall receive such compensation as shall be provided by the council by ordinance. He shall be appointed in the manner and for the term prescribed in § 11 of this Charter. During the absence or disability of the city manager the council shall designate some properly qualified person to perform his duties. (Acts 1999, Ch. 479, § 1; Acts 1999, Ch.525, § 1)

Norfolk City Charter § 50 Powers and duties of the city manager.

Sec. 50. - Powers and duties of the city manager. The city manager shall be responsible to the council for the efficient administration of all affairs of the city. He shall have power, and it shall be his duty: (a) To see that all laws and ordinances are enforced. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, to appoint all heads or directors of departments, and all subordinate officers and employees of the city in both the classified and unclassified service with the power to discipline and remove any officer or employee so appointed; and in the classified service all appointments and removals to be subject to the civil service provisions of this Charter. (c) To exercise supervision and control over all departments and divisions created herein, or that may be hereafter created by the council. (d) To attend all regular meetings of the council, with the right to take part in the discussion, but having no vote. He shall be entitled to notice of all special meetings. (e) To recommend to the council for adoption such measures as he may deem necessary or expedient. (f) To see that all terms and conditions imposed in favor of the city, or its inhabitants, in any public utility franchise, are faithfully kept and performed; upon knowledge of any violation thereof, to call the same to the attention of the city attorney, whose duty it shall be forthwith to take such steps as are necessary to protect and enforce the same. (g) To make and execute all contracts on behalf of the city except as may be otherwise provided in this Charter or by ordinances passed in pursuance thereof. (h) To act as a budget commissioner, and as such to prepare and submit to the council the annual budget, after receiving estimates made by the heads or directors of the departments, or of any board or commission not within a department. (i) To keep the council at all times fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the city. (j) To perform all such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter, or be required of him by ordinance or resolution of the council.

Norfolk City Charter § 51 Investigations.

Sec. 51. - Investigations. The council, the city manager and any officer, board or commission authorized by them, or either of them, shall have power to make investigations as to city affairs, and for that purpose of subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and compel the production of books and papers. The civil service commission shall have power to make investigations relating to the civil service, with the like power to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and compel the production of books and papers. Any person refusing or failing to attend, or to testify, or to produce such books and papers, may by summons issued by such board or officer be summoned before the police justice [general district court] of said city by the board or official making such investigation, and upon failure to give satisfactory explanation of such failure or refusal may be fined by the police justice [general district court] not exceeding one hundred dollars or imprisoned not exceeding thirty days, such person to have the right to appeal to the corporation [circuit] court of the city. Any person who shall give false testimony under oath at any such investigation shall be liable to prosecution for perjury.

Source: City of Norfolk, Virginia, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/norfolk/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH_THMAFetched: 11/1/2026