7-3-1248. Departments of consolidated municipality. (1) (a) In consolidated municipalities of the first, second, third, or fourth class, there shall be a department of finance, a police department, a department of public works, a department of health, a fire department, and such other departments and offices as may be established by ordinance.

(b) In consolidated municipalities of the fifth, sixth, or seventh class, there shall be a department of finance, a police department, a department of public works, a department of health, and such other departments and offices as may be established by ordinance.

(2) The commission may change or abolish any department or office established by ordinance and may prescribe, combine, distribute, or discontinue the functions and duties thereof. Additional functions and duties may be by ordinance assigned to departments and offices created by this part or part 13, but no function or duty assigned by this part or part 13 to any such department or office shall be discontinued or assigned to any other department or office. If the manager so recommends and the commission so authorizes, the manager may appoint one person to act as the head of two or more departments or offices, but the department of law may not thus be joined with any other department, nor may the manager be authorized to act as head of the department of finance or of any office therein other than of purchasing agent or assessor.