Montana Title 7. Local Government § 7-3-4254. Selection and supervision of officers and employees

(1) In cities having a mayor and two council members, the mayor is the superintendent of the department of accounts, finance, and public property, and in cities having a mayor and four city council members, the mayor is the superintendent of the department of public affairs. The mayor has general supervision over all departments of the city and over all matters connected with the city, and the council shall, at its first regular meeting after the election of its members, designate by majority vote one council member to be superintendent over each department of the city, but that designation may be changed whenever it appears that the public service would be benefited.

(2) The council shall, at its first regular meeting after the election of its members or as soon thereafter as practicable, elect by majority vote the following officers: a city clerk, a city treasurer, a city attorney, a city auditor, a city engineer, a city physician, a chief of the fire department, a chief of the police department, a commissioner of weights and measures, a street commissioner, library trustees, cemetery trustees, and other officers and assistants as provided for by ordinance and that may be necessary to the proper and efficient conduct of the affairs of the city. The council may by ordinance consolidate any of the enumerated offices, may require any officer elected by the council to perform the duties of any other officer, and shall appoint a city judge with the authority conferred by existing laws. The tenure in office of a chief of the fire department and other officers of the fire department is governed by the provisions of 7-33-4106 and 7-33-4122 through 7-33-4124. Any officer or assistant elected or appointed by the council may be removed from office at any time by a majority vote of the members of the council, except as otherwise provided in this part.

(3) The council may create, fill, and discontinue offices and employment other than those prescribed in this section, according to their judgment of the needs of the city, by majority vote of all the members to remove any officer or employee, except as otherwise provided for in this part. The council may by resolution or otherwise prescribe, limit, or change the compensation of officers or employees.