(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, all department heads of the departments, and members of the commissions and boards, of the City government, whether the same be established by this Charter or by act of Council, shall be appointed by the Mayor and the names of such appointees shall be certified, in writing, to the City Clerk on or before the second Monday in December following each regular biennial City election and at such other times as may be required to fill vacancies or to replace any head of a department or member of a commission or board who shall have been removed from office; provided, however, that the City Attorney and Assessor shall be appointed by the Mayor, but such appointment shall not be effective until it is confirmed by a majority of the City Council.
(b) If the Mayor shall be unable for any reason to make any one or more of the appointments required by this section within the time limited therefor, he shall, on or before the last day specified for making such appointments, file with the City Clerk a statement specifying the appointment or appointments which he is or has been unable to make and setting forth the reasons therefor, and such appointment or appointments shall be made and certified at a later date or dates, but not later than the thirty-first day of December of the same year.
(c) The terms of office of each head of the departments of the City government and of members of all commissions and boards shall commence on the day following the second Monday in December following each regular biennial City election and upon the date of certification to the City Clerk in the case of appointees to fill a vacancy or to replace the head of any department or member of a commission or board who is removed from office.
(d) Unless a definite term of office is specified in this Charter for the head of any department of the City government, such department heads shall hold office at the discretion of the Mayor; provided, however, that no officer shall continue to hold office after the second Monday in December following a regular biennial City election unless he shall be reappointed for a new term.
(Nov. 5, 1974)