During the absence of the Mayor from the territorial limits of the Urban County, the Mayor may designate the Vice-Mayor as the temporary Acting Mayor of the Merged Government, subject to such limitations of his authority and power as the Mayor may prescribe in writing to the Vice-Mayor and the Council.
In the event the Mayor, or a panel of three (3) qualified medical experts created by ordinance passed by a two-thirds (
2/3
) vote of the entire membership of the Council, shall indicate or ascertain that the Mayor is physically or mentally incapable of performing the duties of the Office of Mayor, the Vice-Mayor shall become the temporary Acting Mayor until such time as the Mayor is declared physically or mentally capable of resuming the duties of the Office of Mayor. In the event the Mayor declares himself incapable of performing the duties of the Office of Mayor, it shall be the prerogative of the Mayor to declare himself capable of resuming such duties. In the event the Mayor is declared incapable of performing the duties of the Office of Mayor by the aforementioned panel of qualified medical experts, only the panel of three (3) medical experts that declared the Mayor incapable, or another panel of three (3) medical experts chosen by the Council, may declare the Mayor capable of resuming the duties of the Office of Mayor. Whenever the Mayor is declared incapacitated under the provisions of this Charter, the Vice-Mayor, while serving as temporary Acting Mayor, shall have all the powers, duties, and salary equivalent to that of the Mayor.