Appointment:
Mayors of cities of the first class without civil service have the absolute right to appoint the police chief, fire chief, and all department heads. The council has no say in the matter.
Unless otherwise provided by state law, mayors in all cities with the mayor / council form of government have the power to appoint and remove department heads. (City councils have the authority to override the mayor’s action by two-thirds votes of all members.)
The Mayor may appoint:
- Airport Commission
- Parks and Recreations Committee
- Water Commission
Suspension:
The mayor of a first class city with mayor / council form of government with non – civil service fire and police departments may suspend the fire or police chief for inefficiency, misconduct, or neglect of duty until the next meeting of the city council. At that meeting, the mayor shall lay the matter before the council. Unless his action is approved and the chief is removed from office at the meeting within 5 days thereafter, by a majority vote of the council-elect, the suspension shall cease.