A. The mayor and vice-mayor shall be chosen by the council at its first meeting in December in each even-numbered year to serve for a term of two (2) years. Should a vacancy occur in either the office of mayor or vice-mayor, the council shall elect a successor to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
B. The mayor shall preside over the sessions of the council and shall sign official documents when the signature of the mayor is required by law. The mayor shall be recognized as the official head of the city for all public and ceremonial purposes, and by the Governor for military purposes. In times of emergency, the mayor may take command of the police, maintain order and enforce laws for a period not exceeding forty-eight (48) hours, and the mayor shall be the judge of what constitutes such public dangers or emergencies; such command may be continued for a longer period by a majority of the city council at a special meeting called for that purpose. The mayor shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law or ordinance or by resolution of the council, except as limited by this Charter. The mayor shall possess no veto power.
C. The vice-mayor shall, in the absence of the mayor, assume all his or her powers and duties.
D. When both the mayor and vice-mayor are absent, the council may choose one of its own members to act as mayor pro tempore.
(Res. No. 84 74-75 §3(a), Passed 4-8-75, Filed in Office of Secretary of State 4-21-75; Res. No. 75 76-77 §1, Measure B (part), Passed 3-8-77, Filed in Office of Secretary of State 5-2-77; Res. No. 126 80-81 §§1 and 7 (part), Measures A and G (part), Passed 4-7-81, Filed in Office of Secretary of State 6-8-81; Res. No. 25 84-85 §1 (part), Passed 11-6-84, Filed in Office of Secretary of State 1-3-85; Res. No. 112 93-94 §3, Measure C and §4, Measure D (part), Passed 6-7-94, Filed in Office of Secretary of State 10-3-94)