§ 7. Limitations of the powers of the council.

Neither the mayor, the council, nor any of its members, shall dictate, urge or suggest the appointment of any person to office or employment by the city manager, or in any manner interfere with the city manager, or prevent the city manager from exercising his or her own judgement in the appointment of officers or employees in the administrative service; provided, however, that the city manager's appointments of deputy or assistant city managers, but not of department heads, shall be subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the council. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the mayor, the council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the city manager, and neither the mayor, the council, nor any member thereof, shall give orders to any of the subordinates of the city manager either publicly or privately.

(Acts 1962, Ch. 442, § 1; Acts 1974, Ch. 149, § 1; Acts 2002, Ch. 685, § 1)

Annotation—Where a policy decision of the city council causes a city employee to be released, there is no conflict with the delegated powers of the city manager. See Mermelstein v. Haner, 436 F. Supp. 238 (W.D. Va. 1976).