At its first meeting in the month of May following a regular municipal election the board of commissioners shall choose one of its members as vice chairman, who shall act as mayor pro tem. The mayor shall preside at meetings of the board of commissioners and shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as are or may be conferred and imposed upon him by the general laws of North Carolina, by this charter and the ordinances of the town. He shall be recognized as the head of the town government for all ceremonial purposes, by the courts for serving civil processes, and by the Governor for purposes of military law. In time of public danger or emergency the mayor shall, if so authorized and directed by vote of the board of commissioners, take command of the police, maintain order and enforce the law. In case of the absence or disability of the mayor, the mayor pro tem shall act as mayor during the continuance of the absence or disability.