ORDINANCE 2025-08
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CREATION OF THE POSITION OF TOWN MANAGER FOR THE TOWN OF CHURUBUSCO, INDIANA
WHEREAS, pursuant to Ind. Code § 36-5-5-2, the Town Council (“Council”) of the Town of Churubusco, Indian (“Town”) may employ a Town Manager to be the administrative head of the Town;
WHEREAS, Council previously adopted an ordinance to create the manager of Town Manager;
WHEREAS, Council now desires to amend that previous ordinance;
WHEREAS, The Council shall fix her compensation, benefits, and terms of employment; and
WHEREAS, The Town Manager may be employed to serve for a definite tenure not to exceed the longest remaining term in office of a member of the Council, in which case the Town Manager may be dismissed only for cause.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CHURUBUSCO, INDIANA:
SECTION I: CREATION OF POSITION
A. The Town Manager shall be the administrative head of the Town government. She shall be employed solely with regard to merit and on the basis of her executive and administrative qualifications.
B. Pursuant to Ind. Code § 36-5-5-3, no member of the Council shall, during the time for which she has been elected, be employed as a Town Manager.
C. The Town Manager need not be a resident of the Town at the time of her appointment, but she may reside outside of the Town while in office only with the approval of the Council.
SECTION II: DUTIES
A. Pursuant to Ind. Code § 36-5-5-8, the Town Manager, under the direction of the Council, is responsible for the administrative duties of the Council. Unless a written order or ordinance of the Council provides otherwise, the Town Manager:
a. shall attend the meetings of the Council and recommend actions the Town Manager considers advisable;
b. shall hire Town employees according to the pay schedules and standards fixed by the Council or by statute;
c. shall suspend, discharge, remove, or transfer Town employees, if necessary for the welfare of the Town;
d. may delegate any of the Town Manager’s powers to an employee responsible to the Town Manager;
e. shall administer and enforce all ordinances, orders, and resolutions of the Council;
f. shall see that all statutes that are required to be administered by the Council or a Town officer subject to the control of the Council are faithfully administered;
g. shall prepare budget estimates and submit them to the Council when required;
h. shall execute contracts on behalf of the Town for materials, supplies, services, or improvements, after the completion of the appropriations, notice, and competitive bidding required by statute; and
i. may receive service of summons on behalf of the Town.
B. In addition to her statutorily prescribed duties, the Town Manager shall:
a. Serve as a liaison between the council and department heads (excluding town police chief), keeps the council apprised of departmental activities; provides oversight of professional contractors and consultants as needed; assists departments with resolution of issues requiring the attention of the council; excluding the police department, monitors and evaluates progress of departments towards the goals and objectives of the Town.
b. Establishes policies and procedures for all Town functions (excluding Police); oversees and participates in the resolution of inquiries and complaints from the public and other organizations.
c. Briefs the Council on pending agenda items and other Town issues; responds to inquiries and provides Council Members with information on the status of Town operations and projects; provides analysis as needed to assist the Council to make informed policy decisions; and prepare agendas and facilitate all other items necessary for Town council meetings
d. Perform financial and managerial analyses for Town Council, pertaining to Town operations and programs; evaluate data and make recommendations based on findings; prepare financial reports and projections; and make necessary presentations to the Town Council and other interested parties.
e. Serve as lead negotiator representing the Town’s positions; conduct costing analysis in preparation for contract negotiations; drafts responses to grievances in consultation with council.
f. Serve as human resources and benefits coordinator for all Town departments including Police Department and tasked with processing payroll and keeping time records for all departments and pay in accordance with the most recent salary ordinance and personnel manual.
g. Assists the council with strategic and long-range planning for the Town: participate in planning efforts at the local and regional level; keeps the Council apprised of developments at the state and federal level that impact the Town; monitor pending legislation for impact on the Town; oversee compliance with new legislation.
h. Represent the Town at various meetings, boards, functions, and events: serves as a liaison to various civic and governmental organizations and committees, taskforces, boards, and commissions; confers regularly with officials from other municipalities, chambers of commerce, authorities, and commissions; provides information about Town operations; participates in discussions and decisions and keeps the council apprised of such activities.
i. Facilitate problem solving at all levels in the Town: work with department heads and management to ensure effective coordination and cooperation among departments; coordinate the continuous review of interdepartmental processes for quality control and improvement; responds to inquiries from the public regarding issues unresolved at the departmental level.
j. Coordinate special projects for the Town , including the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of projects, management studies, introduction of new programs, and various professional services: defines the scope of the project; identifies and ensures proper allocation of financial, material, and human resources committed to the project; formulates solutions and resolves problems; facilitates implementation of the project; perform grant writing; and provide administrative support to the project as needed
k. Serve as the Agent of Churubusco Utilities
l. All other duties as assigned by Town Council.
SECTION III: BOND Pursuant to Ind. Code § 36-5-5-5, in the manner prescribed by Ind. Code § 5-4-1, the Town Manager shall execute a bond in favor of the Town for the faithful and lawful performance of her duties, in such sum as may be fixed from time to time by the Council, and if none is so fixed, then in the amount of $15,000. The cost of such bond shall be paid by the Town.
SECTION IV: TEMPORARY ABSENCE Pursuant to Ind. Code § 36-5-5-6, the Council may appoint a qualified person to perform the duties of the Town Manager whenever the Town Manager is absent or unable to perform the Town Manager’s duties.
SECTION V: POWERS Nothing herein is intended to provide greater authority or power to a Town Manager than that which is now authorized by state law. Pursuant to Ind. Code § 36-5-5-7, nothing herein shall amend any applicable laws requiring the Council to authorize the issuance of bonds or warrants of the Town, and requiring execution thereof by the officers of the Town.
SECTION VI: SALARY The Town Manager’s salary is to be the amount indicated in the Town’s most recent Salary Ordinance as amended from time to time.
SECTION VII: TERM The term of the Town Manager shall be set by Council when the Town Manager is appointed, but in no event shall the term be longer than the longest term of the Council member of the appointing Council (“Term”)
SECTION VIII: DISMISSAL FOR CAUSE During the Term of the Town Manager, the Town Manager can only be removed for Cause. “Cause” in this Ordinance shall mean: willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of duties; conviction of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or any crime involving dishonesty, fraud, or moral turpitude; insubordination or refusal to comply with lawful directives of the Town Council; substance abuse that materially impairs the ability to perform duties; harassment, discrimination, or other unlawful conduct in violation of federal, state, or local law; misappropriation of funds, misuse of public office, or other ethical violations under applicable law; abandonment of position or repeated, unexcused absences from work.
SECTION VII: EFFECTIVE DATE This Ordinance shall replace any previous ordinance relate to the creation of the position of Town of Manager and shall be in full force and effect as of the date of adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Town Council of the Town of Churubusco, Whitley County, State of Indiana this 18th day of June, 2025.
ATTEST: ________________________________
Devin Keener, Council Member
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Nathan Van Horn, President
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Mark Pepple, Council Member
