Opinion ID: 2108339
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Did Brooke Have the Authority to Remove Waddell from the Board?

Text: The power to remove Waddell from the Board rests with the appointing authority. Iowa Code § 414.8. By statute [t]he council shall provide for the appointment of a board of adjustment.... Iowa Code § 414.7. Section 17.52.010 of the Davenport Municipal Code provides: A board of adjustment is established, which shall consist of five members. The word board, when used in this chapter, means the board of adjustment. All members of the board shall be legal residents of the City of Davenport. The terms of office of the members of the board of adjustment and the manner of their appointment shall be provided by statute. Davenport Mun.Code § 17.52.010 (2002). Section 414.8 of the Iowa Code provides for the term of the Board members. As for the actual appointment of the members, section 2.30.070(19) of the Davenport Municipal Code provides: City Administrator  Powers and Duties Generally. 19. Power to appoint or employ persons to fill all places for which no other mode of appointment is provided, and power to administer oaths of office. The mayor shall continue to appoint all members to all boards, commissions and agencies to which he presently makes appointments. Davenport Mun.Code § 2.30.070(19) (emphasis added). The record made at the public hearing before the city council was undisputed that the mayor has always been responsible for the appointment of the members to the Board, with city council confirmation. The city council's authority to confirm a Board member does not make the council the appointing authority. LaPeters v. City of Cedar Rapids, 263 N.W.2d 734, 737 (Iowa 1978). The mayor is the appointing authority. Id. Brooke as mayor had the statutory authority to remove Waddell from the Board upon written charges and after a public hearing. Iowa Code § 414.8.