Surprise, AZ News blog

(1)   Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, appoint, supervise, direct, discipline, and terminate all officers and employees of the city except those who, by statute, are appointed by the city council. The city manager shall exercise and maintain administrative control of all city employees, including those appointed by the city council, and may make recommendations to the council regarding retention or termination of such appointive officers. The city manager may delegate the authority to department heads to appoint, supervise, direct, discipline or terminate subordinates in any department;

(2)   The city council hereby delegates to the city manager the council’s statutory authority to appoint the police chief, fire chief, and city engineer. The city manager shall appoint, direct and control the duties for each of these offices based upon the person’s qualifications to perform the duties of each respective office taking into account the person’s experience, training, education, skills and any other factors the city manager deems relevant to performing the duties of the respective offices. The city manager shall supervise, direct, and discipline the police chief, fire chief, and city engineer in the performance of their duties. The police chief, fire chief, and city engineer shall serve at the pleasure of the city manager, and the city manager may terminate the police chief, fire chief, and city engineer for any reason not prohibited by law. The city manager may delegate the authority to supervise, direct or discipline the police chief, fire chief, and city engineer to the assistant city manager;