Sec. 4. (a) After consulting with the executive of the consolidated city and the director of the department of metropolitan development, the commission may appoint or remove an administrator. The administrator shall, in accordance with the personnel policies and practices of the city, hire and discharge additional staff, following the standards and qualifications established by the commission. No consideration may be given to political affiliation in the selection and tenure of the staff. The commission shall determine the compensation of the administrator and other staff consistent with ordinances of the legislative body adopted under IC 36-3-6-3.

(b) Before December 1 each year, the commission shall adopt a work program defining the activities that are proposed to be carried out by staff during the next calendar year. At least forty-five (45) days before the commission desires to adopt a work program, it shall submit a copy of the proposed work program to the executive of the consolidated city and to the director of the department of metropolitan development. The executive and director shall, within thirty (30) days after submission, review and provide comments to the commission regarding the proposed work program. After comments have been received from the executive and the director and considered by the commission or after thirty (30) days have elapsed from the date of submission (whichever occurs first), the commission shall adopt a work program. Activities carried out during the calendar year must conform to or not substantially depart from the work program. The work program may be modified during the applicable calendar year in the same manner as the adoption of the original work program, except that the executive and the director have only ten (10) days in which to review and comment on the proposed work program modification, and the commission may then immediately adopt a work program modification.

(c) The administrator shall provide information that will allow the director of the department of metropolitan development to coordinate the activities of the department of metropolitan development with the activities of the commission and its staff. In order to achieve consistency in administrative practices and policies between the consolidated city and the staff of the commission, the administrator shall seek the advice and guidance of the director regarding such matters as budgeting and fiscal control, personnel administration, and purchasing.

(d) The commission shall establish and maintain offices and facilities as may be necessary for the performance of its duties, the activities of its staff, and the preservation of its records, documents, and accounts. The location of the offices must be approved by the executive of the consolidated city.

(e) The commission shall prepare and submit annually to the fiscal officer of the consolidated city its estimate of the expenditures required for its operations and fiscal responsibilities for the ensuing fiscal year. The budget of the commission and its staff constitutes a part of the consolidated city budget and shall be determined in accordance with IC 36-3-6, and the county comprises the taxing district for the commission.

As added by Acts 1982, P.L.77, SEC.6.