(a) Absence. When the Mayor is for any reason unable to perform Mayoral duties, the President of Council shall become the acting Mayor, and while so acting shall have and exercise all of the powers of the Mayor, but shall not thereby cease to be the President of Council. In the event the President of Council is absent from the Municipality, or for any reason is unable to perform the duties of acting Mayor, when the Mayor is for any reason unable to perform Mayoral duties, the President pro tem of Council shall become the acting Mayor, and while so acting shall have all the powers and duties of the Mayor, but shall not thereby cease to be President pro tem of Council. (Amended 11-4-86)
(b) Vacancy. If the office of Mayor becomes vacant, the President of Council shall forthwith become Mayor, except as herein after set forth, and shall serve through the end of the calendar year of the next general election at which the office of Mayor can be determined by the electors of the Municipality, for the unexpired term and the President pro tem shall become the President of Council. Thereupon, the vacancy in Council shall first be filled in the manner provided in Section 6 of Article IV, and then a new President pro tem shall be chosen by Council. If the President of Council declines to serve as Mayor, Council shall then appoint by majority vote one (1) Council member as Mayor to serve until the end of the calendar year in which the next general election will be held and the election of Mayor for the balance of the unexpired term can be decided by the electors of the Municipality. If a Mayor-elect fails to qualify for office, a vacancy shall be deemed to exist and the President of Council elected at the organization meeting following such regular Municipal election shall become Mayor for that portion of the term as provided above. The election for Mayor for the balance of the remaining term, when the office of Mayor becomes vacant, shall be held at the next general election which is more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the office of Mayor becomes vacant.
(Amended 11-2-21)