Mr. Cabell. Under the charter of the city of Dallas, the city council is composed of councilmen and the mayor, the mayor having the status of a councilman, but also being the presiding officer elected by the people at large as the mayor. He is the presiding officer and the spokesman for the council. The council does not have administrative responsibilities nor authority. The council is a legislative and policymaking body who appoint the city manager, among certain other city officials or department heads.
The city manager in turn has the discretion of appointing those department heads under his direct jurisdiction, including the appointment of the chief of police. The council, by ordinance, is not authorized to, and in fact is prohibited from taking direct administrative action through or over any of the department heads appointed by and responsible to the city manager.
Mr. Hubert. How many members compose the council, sir?
Mr. Cabell. Eight members, in addition to the Mayor.
Mr. Hubert. They are elected?
Mr. Cabell. They are all elected by the citizens of Dallas at large. That is, they are all voted upon.
Mr. Hubert. Now the city manager, as I understand it, is appointed by the council or by the mayor?
Mr. Cabell. No; the city manager is appointed by the council, by council action.
Mr. Hubert. Now the city manager on November 22 through 24, 1963, was Mr. Crull?
Mr. Cabell. Elgin E. Crull.