In response to recommendations, the Minot City Council adopted a new organizational chart for city operations Monday.

Attorney Patricia Monson, who investigated allegations of a hostile work environment within the city earlier this year, had suggested changing the internal reporting structure.

Under the changes in an ordinance approved on first reading, the city attorney would be independent from the city manager and report directly to the city council. The mayor would appoint the city attorney, subject to the civil service process. Appointing or removing a city attorney would require majority approval by the council.

The finance director and human resource director would follow the direction of the city manager but also have a direct line to the council, whose decisions supersede the manager’s directions. The finance director currently is responsible to both the manager and council, but the change will affect the human resources position.

The city manager would retain authority to appoint and remove employees, but appointments and removal of heads of departments would require majority approval by the council.

The ordinance limits sick leave accrual by a city manager to 30 days and repeals existing language regarding the recreation division. The city merged its recreation division with the park district last year.