Organization of County Government
Section 2.1: Elected Commission and Appointed County Manager Form of Government
Lee County shall operate under an appointed County Manager form of government with cooperation of legislative and executive functions in accordance with the provisions of this Home Rule Charter. The legislative responsibilities and powers of the County shall be assigned to, and vested in, the Board of County Commissioners. The executive responsibilities and power of the County shall be assigned to and vested in the County Manager, who shall carry out the directives and policies of the Board of County Commissioners and enforce all orders, resolutions, ordinances, and regulations of the Board of County Commissioners, the County Charter, and all applicable general law, to ensure that they are faithfully executed.
Section 2.2: Legislative Branch
A. The County Commission Composition, Election and Terms of Members
(1) Composition and Election
The governing body of the County shall be a Board of County Commissioners composed of five (5) members serving staggered terms of four (4) years. There shall be one Commissioner for each of the five (5) County Commission districts established pursuant to general law and they shall be elected in a partisan election on a county-wide basis by the electors of the County. Each County Commissioner during the term of office shall reside in the district from which such County Commissioner ran for office, provided that any County Commissioner who is removed from a district by redistricting may continue to serve during the balance of the term of office.
(2) Terms of County Commissioners
No Commissioner shall serve more than three (3) consecutive terms on the Board. No previous term in office which is in progress as of November 2014 shall be considered a term of service for purposes of the limitations contained herein.
B. Redistricting
County Commission district boundaries shall be changed only after notice and a public hearing as provided by general law.
C. Salaries and Other Compensation
Salaries and other compensation of the County Commissioners shall be set the same as those set by general law for the County Commissioners of non-charter counties and shall not be lowered during the term of office.
D. Authority
The Board of County Commissioners shall exercise all legislative authority provided by this Home Rule Charter in addition to any other powers and duties authorized by general law or special law.
E. Administrative Code
The Board of County Commissioners shall adopt an Administrative Code by ordinance and in accordance with general law within twelve (12) months of the effective date of this Charter.
(1) The Administrative Code shall organize the administration of County government and set forth the duties and responsibilities and powers of all County officials and agencies.
(2) The Administrative Code shall not apply to the elected Constitutional Officers.
F. Vacancies
A vacancy in the office of County Commissioner shall be defined and filled as provided by general law.
G. Recall
The members of the Board of County Commissioners shall be subject to recall as provided by general law.
H. Initiative
(1) The electors of Lee County shall have the right to initiate County ordinances in order to establish new ordinances and to amend or repeal existing ordinances upon petition of qualified electors in the County. Each such proposed ordinance shall embrace but one subject and matter directly connected therewith. The number of qualified elector signatures for a valid petition must equal at least five percent (5%) of the electors qualified to vote in the last preceding general election. No more than thirty percent (30%) of the total number of signature required will be allowed in any single Board of County Commission District.
(2) The sponsor of an initiative ordinance shall, prior to obtaining any signatures, submit the text of the proposed ordinance to the Supervisor of Elections, with the form on which, signatures will be affixed, and shall obtain the approval of the Supervisor of Elections of such form. The style and requirements of such form shall be specified by County ordinance. The beginning date of any petition drive shall commence upon the date of approval by the Supervisor of Elections of the form on which signatures will be affixed, and said drive shall terminate one hundred and eighty (180) days after that date. In the event sufficient signatures are not acquired during that one hundred eighty (180) day period, the petition initiative shall be rendered null and void and none of the signatures may be carried over into another identical or similar petition. The sponsor shall submit signed and dated forms to the Supervisor of Elections and upon submission shall pay all fees as required by general law. The Supervisor of Elections shall within forty-five (45) days verify the signatures thereon.
(3) Within forty-five (45) days after the requisite number of names have been verified by the Supervisor of Elections and reported to the Board of County Commissioners, the Board of County Commissioners shall notice and hold according to general law a public hearing on the proposed ordinance and vote on it. If the Board of County Commissioners fails to enact the proposed ordinance at the public hearing, it shall, at the public hearing, by resolution, call for a referendum on the question of the adoption of the proposed ordinance to be held at the next general election occurring at least ninety (90) days after the adoption of such resolution. If the question of the adoption of the proposed ordinance is approved by a majority of those registered electors voting on the question, the proposed ordinance shall be declared by resolution of the Board of County Commissioners to be enacted and shall become effective on the date specified in the ordinance, or, if not so specified, on January 1 of the succeeding year. The Board of County Commissioners shall not amend or repeal an ordinance adopted by this initiative procedure for a period of one year after the effective date of such ordinance and thereafter may amend or repeal such ordinance only by an affirmative vote of at least a majority plus one of its membership.
(4) The power to enact, amend or repeal an ordinance by initiative shall not include ordinances relating to the County budget, debt obligations, capital improvement programs, salaries of County officers and employees, the levy and collection of taxes, and the rezoning of an individual parcel of land.
I. Non-Interference
(1) County Commissioners may communicate, directly or indirectly, with employees, officers or agents under the direct or indirect supervision of the County Manager or County Attorney only for the purpose of inquiry or information.
(2) Except for the purpose of inquiry or information, a County Commissioner shall not, directly or indirectly, give directions to or interfere with the performance of the duties of any employee, officer, or agent under the direct or indirect supervision of the County Manager or County Attorney.
(3) Violations of the Section of the Charter shall constitute malfeasance within the meaning of Section 100.361(l)(b), Florida Statutes.
(4) Nothing contained herein shall prevent a County Commissioner from referring a citizen complaint or request to the County Manager or County Attorney.
Section 2.3: Executive Branch
A. The County Manager
(1) The County Manager shall be appointed by an affirmative vote of a simple majority of the membership of the Board of County Commissioners. The County Manager may be terminated with or without cause by an affirmative vote of a simple majority of the membership of the Board of County Commissioners. The County Manager may be employed by means of a contract with the Board of County Commissioners. The County Manager shall be the chief executive officer of the County and all executive responsibilities and power shall be assigned to and vested in the County Manager, which shall consist of the following powers and duties, with the specific exception of the Office of the Lee County Hearing Examiner, which notwithstanding any provision of this Charter to the contrary, may continue by existing Ordinance, or be re-established by new Ordinance, consistent with the other provisions of this Charter:
(a) Report annually to the Board of County Commissioners and to the citizens on the state of the County, the work of the previous year, recommendations for action or programs for improvement of the County, and the well-being of its residents.
(b) Prepare and submit the annual budget and capital programs to the Board of County Commissioners and execute the budget and capital programs in accordance with appropriations and ordinances enacted by the Commission.
(c) Ensure that all ordinances resolutions and orders of the Board of County Commissioners and all laws of the State which are subject to enforcement by the County Manager, or by officers who are subject under this Charter to the County Manager's direction and supervision, are faithfully executed.
(d) Carry into execution such other powers or duties, as are required by this Charter or may be prescribed by the Board of County Commissioners.
(e) The County Manager shall exercise all executive authority provided by this Home Rule Charter in addition to all other powers and duties authorized by general or special law.
(2) The County Manager shall be qualified by administrative and executive experience and ability to serve as the chief executive officer of the County. Minimum qualifications including educational and administrative requirements for the County Manager shall be established by County ordinance. The County Manager need not be a resident of the County at the time of appointment, but during the term of appointment shall reside within the County.
(3) The compensation of the County Manager shall be fixed by the Board of County Commissioners.
(4) The office of County Manager shall be deemed vacant if the incumbent moves his residence from the County or is, by death, illness, or other casualty, unable to continue in office. A vacancy in the office shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The Board of County Commissioners may appoint an acting County Manager in the case of vacancy, temporary absence or disability until a successor has been appointed and qualified or the County Manager returns.
B. County Department Heads
(1) The County department heads shall be appointed by and shall be responsible to the County Manager.
(2) The County Manager shall have the sole authority to suspend or terminate any department head with or without cause.
C. County Attorney
(1) The County Attorney shall be appointed by an affirmative vote of a simple majority of the membership of the Board of County Commissioners. The County Attorney may be terminated with or without cause by an affirmative vote of a simple majority of the membership of the Board of County Commissioners.
(2) The County Attorney may be employed by means of a contract with the Board of County Commissioners.
(3) The County Attorney shall be a member in good standing of the Florida Bar and shall reside within the County during the term of appointment.
(4) The County Attorney shall be the legal advisor and provide legal services to the Board of County Commissioners, the County Manager and departments and divisions under the supervision of the County Manager, and all County regulatory and advisory boards and agencies in all matters relating to their official duties and responsibilities.
(5) The County Attorney shall appoint and terminate Assistant County Attorneys with or without cause.
(6) In the event there is an actual or potential conflict of interest between parties represented by the County Attorney as specified in Section 2.3.C.(4), the County Attorney shall promptly submit such conflict to the Board of County Commissioners who shall resolve such conflict by hiring special legal counsel or other lawfully available method to resolve the conflict.