Council adopts code change letting city administrator appoint acting city clerk

The Nixa City Council adopted an ordinance on June 9 amending the city code to allow the city administrator to appoint an acting city clerk in case of temporary absence or disability and to authorize appointments to handle required disbursement approvals when the clerk or finance director are unavailable.

City attorney Mike Fix told the council the code change mirrors an existing charter section that permits similar designations and is intended to close procedural gaps during planned absences. "We don't have a mechanism for many of the city clerk's duties to be done in the absence of the clerk," Fix said, explaining the practical need for the amendment.

Council members discussed the workload and approved the ordinance by roll call. The change also clarifies that the administrator may appoint a designee to perform approvals for disbursements in the temporary absence of required officials, reducing the need for the mayor or mayor pro tem to assume that duty routinely.