(A) Powers and duties.
(1) The Mayor shall preside at all meeting of the City Council. The Mayor may vote when his or her vote would provide the additional vote requited to attain the number of votes equal to a majority of the number of members elected to the City Council on any pending matter, legislation or transaction, and the Mayor shall, for the purpose of such vote, be deemed to be a member of the Council. He or she shall have superintendence and control of all the officers and affairs of the city, and shall take care that the ordinances of the city and all laws governing cities of the second class are complied with.
(2) The Mayor shall have the power to veto or sign any ordinance passed by the City Council and to approve or veto any order, bylaw, resolution, award of or vote to enter into and contract, or the allowance of any claim. If the Mayor approves the ordinance, order, bylaw, resolution, contract or claim, he or she shall sign it, and it shall become effective. If the Mayor vetoes the ordinance, order, bylaw, resolution, contract or any item or items of appropriations or claims, he or she shall return it to the City Council stating that the measure is vetoed. The Mayor may issue the veto at the meeting at which the measure passed or within seven calendar days after the meeting. If the Mayor issues the veto after the meeting, the Mayor shall notify the City Clerk of the veto in writing. The Clerk shall notify the City Council in writing of the Mayor’s veto. Any order, bylaw, resolution, award of or vote to enter into any contract, or the allowance of any claim vetoed by the Mayor may be passed over his or her veto by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the Council. If the Mayor neglects or refuses to sign any ordinance, order, bylaw, resolution, award of or vote to enter into any contract, or the allowance of any claim, but fails to veto the measure within the time required by this section, the measure shall become effective without his or her signature. The Mayor may veto any item or items of any appropriation bill, and approve the remainder thereof, and the item or items vetoed may be passed by the Council over the veto as in other cases.
(3) The Mayor shall, from time to time, communicate to the City Council such information and recommend such measure as, in his or her opinion, may tend to the improvement of the finances, the police, health, security, ornament, comfort and general prosperity of the city.
(4) The Mayor shall have the power, when he or she deems it necessary, to require any officer to the city to exhibit his or her accounts or other papers, and to make reports to the Council, in writing, touching any subject or matter pertaining to his or her office.
(5) The Mayor shall have such jurisdiction as may be vested in him or her by ordinance, over all places within five miles of the corporate limits of the city, for the enforcement of any health of quarantine ordinance and regulation thereof, and shall have jurisdiction in all matters vested in him or her by ordinance, excepting taxation, within the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of the city.
(6) The Mayor shall have the power to remit fines and forfeitures and to grant reprieves and pardons for all offenses arising under the ordinances of the city.
(7) The Mayor shall hold no other elective or appointive office or employment with the city.
(8) The Mayor shall sign the City Clerk’s minutes of all meetings of the City Council, and he or she shall sign all resolutions that have been passed and warrants for the payment of money when ordered by the City Council.
(9) The Mayor shall have such other duties as are reposed in the Mayor by the laws of the state or as the Council may be resolution confer upon the Mayor.
(1976 Code, § 1-101)
(B) Vacancy.
(1) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of Mayor, or in case of his or her disability or absence, the President of the Council shall exercise the office of Mayor until such vacancy is filled or such disability is removed, or in case of temporary absence, until the Mayor returns.
(2) When the successful candidate for Mayor shall be prevented from assuming office, the incumbent Mayor shall not be entitled to hold over the term, but such office shall automatically become vacant and the President of the Council shall exercise the office of Mayor until such vacancy is filled.
(3) If the President of the Council shall for any cause assume the office of Mayor for the remainder of the unexpired term, there shall be a vacancy on the Council which shall be filled as provided in § 30.056 of this chapter.
(1976 Code, § 1-106)
(C) Election; qualifications; term.
(1) The Mayor shall be elected as provided in the Election Act, being Neb. RS Ch. 32. The Mayor shall take office on the date of the first regular meeting of the City Council held in December following the statewide general election. The Mayor shall be a resident and registered voter of the city.
(2) The Mayor shall serve for a term of four years or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.
(1976 Code, § 1-108)
(Ord. 765, passed 9-6-1984; Ord. 1426B, passed 12-5-2011; Ord. 1443, passed 12-23–2013; Ord. 1455B, passed 2-9-2015)
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see Neb. RS 17-107, 17-110, 17-111, 17-112, 17-113, 14-114, 17-115, 17-117, 32-533
Restrictions on holding other office or employment, see Neb. RS 17-108.02, 32-109, 32-603, 32-604