(A) In the event of a vacancy in the office of Mayor, the President Pro Tempore of Council shall become the Mayor, unless the person holding the office of President Pro Tempore of Council shall decline, by a written statement to be filed with the Clerk of Council, to succeed to the office of Mayor and elects to remain as a member of Council and as the President Pro Tempore of Council. In the event the President Pro Tempore of Council declines to succeed to the office of Mayor, the Council shall elect another of its members to succeed to the office of Mayor for the term as provided in this section. If the vacancy in the office of Mayor occurs subsequent to seven (7) days before the date when candidates for the office of Mayor must file their nominating petitions of if two (2) years or less remain in the term vacated, the person succeeding to the office of Mayor under this section shall serve for the unexpired term. If the vacancy in the office of Mayor occurs at least (7) seven days prior to the date when candidates for the office of Mayor must file their nominating petitions and more than two (2) years remain in the term vacated, the person succeeding to the office of Mayor under this section, shall serve until a successor to the office of Mayor is elected at the next regular municipal election for the remainder of the unexpired term. The person elected for the unexpired term shall take office on the first day of January following election.
(B) When the Mayor is temporarily absent from the municipality or is under a temporary disability, the President Pro Tempore of Council shall serve as Acting Mayor and shall exercise all the powers, duties and functions of the Mayor. The President Pro Tempore of Council shall continue as a Council member and as the President Pro Tempore of Council while serving as the Acting Mayor, and shall be entitled to vote on all matters coming before the Council.