(a)        The manager is the chief administrator of county government. The manager is responsible to the board of commissioners for the administration of all departments of county government under the board’s general control and has the following powers and duties:

(1)        He shall appoint with the approval of the board of commissioners and suspend or remove all county officers, employees, and agents except those who are elected by the people or whose appointment is otherwise provided for by law. The board may by resolution permit the manager to appoint officers, employees, and agents without first securing the board’s approval. The manager shall make his appointments, suspensions, and removals in accordance with any general personnel rules, regulations, policies, or ordinances that the board may adopt. The board may require the manager to report each suspension or removal to the board at the board’s first regular meeting following the suspension or removal; and, if the board has permitted the manager to make appointments without board approval, the board may require the manager to report each appointment to the board at the board’s first regular meeting following the appointment.

(2)        He shall direct and supervise the administration of all county offices, departments, boards, commissions and agencies under the general control of the board of commissioners, subject to the general direction and control of the board.

(3)        He shall attend all meetings of the board of commissioners and recommend any measures that he considers expedient.

(4)        He shall see that the orders, ordinances, resolutions, and regulations of the board of commissioners are faithfully executed within the county.

(5)        He shall prepare and submit the annual budget and capital program to the board of commissioners.

(6)        He shall annually submit to the board of commissioners and make available to the public a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the county as of the end of the fiscal year.

(7)        He shall make any other reports that the board of commissioners may require concerning the operations of county offices, departments, boards, commissions, and agencies.

(8)        He shall perform any other duties that may be required or authorized by the board of commissioners.

(9)        The manager shall receive a minimum of six clock hours of education upon the occurrence, or within six months of the occurrence, of any of the following:

a.         The Local Government Commission is exercising its authority under Article 10 of Chapter 159 of the N.C. Gen. Stat. with respect to the county.

b.         The county has received a unit letter from the Local Government Commission due to a deficiency in complying with Chapter 159 of the N.C. Gen. Stat..

c.         The county has an internal control material weakness or significant deficiency in the most recently completed financial audit.

d.         The county is included on the most recently published Unit Assistance List issued by the Department of State Treasurer.

(b)        The education required by subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of this section shall incorporate fiscal management and the requirements of Chapter 159 of the N.C. Gen. Stat.. The education may be provided by the Local Government Commission, the School of Government at the University of North Carolina, the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina League of Municipalities, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, or other qualified sources at the choice of the governing board and upon the prior approval of the Local Government Commission. The clerk to the governing board shall maintain a record verifying receipt of the education by the manager and shall provide this information, upon request, to the Secretary of the Local Government Commission. ?(1927, c. 91, ss. 6, 7; 1973, c. 822, s. 1; 2021-124, s. 3.)