At the first meeting after the regular annual election, the Mayor and City Commissioners shall elect by ballot a Vice-Mayor from their group by the majority vote of not less than three (3) members. In case of a tie vote in election of the Vice-Mayor, the City Commission shall continue to ballot; but if the tie persists after four (4) ballots, the names of those persons nominated shall be written on appropriate slips of paper by the City Clerk and the Clerk shall place them in a box with several similar slips of paper bearing no names. The City Clerk shall proceed to draw a slip of paper from the box until such time as the City Clerk draws the name of one of the nominees. The City Clerk shall then cast a vote for the person whose name has been drawn. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Vice-Mayor, it shall be filled by the City Commission in the same manner. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Mayor, and at the time the vacancy occurs there are six (6) months or more remaining until the next municipal general election, a special election shall be called to fill the vacancy which shall be within ninety (90) days from the date of the vacancy, and candidates to fill the office must qualify with the City Clerk as provided by ordinance but not less than three (3) weeks prior to the special election. The Mayor shall preside at City Commission meetings, shall vote and in all other respects have the duties, privileges, and responsibilities of a Commissioner, and shall be recognized as head of the City Government for all ceremonial purposes and by the governor for the purposes of military law, and shall execute all instruments to which the city is a party when directed to do so by the City Commission, unless otherwise provided by this Charter or by ordinance, but the Mayor shall have no regular administrative duties. The Vice-Mayor shall act as Mayor in the absence or disability of the Mayor, failure of the Mayor to continue in office or vacancy in the Office of Mayor, except when filled as provided hereinabove, but shall not automatically become Mayor if the office of Mayor shall become vacant.
(Ord. 2003-63, passed 7-29-03, Ref. of 11-4-03, Amend. No. 2 (part), ratified 11-25-03; Am. Ord. 2008-49, passed 6-24-08, Ref. of 11-4-08, Amend. No. 3, ratified 11-25-08)
Editor's note:
Section 1 of Am. Ord. 2003-63, approved by the electors on November 4, 2003, repealed Art. II, § 9 of Ch. 57-1754 (as amended by Special Acts, Ch. 61-2712, § 6) and substituted in lieu thereof a new § 9 as hereinabove set out.