(a) Each member of Council and every officer of the City shall, within twenty days after his election or appointment and before entering upon the duties of his office, take and subscribe an oath or affirmation that he possesses all of the qualifications prescribed by the Charter of the City, and is not subject to any of the disqualifications described therein; that he will support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, and that he will honestly and faithfully discharge the duties of his office to the best of his skill and judgment.
(b) The oath required by subsection (a) hereof, may be taken before the City Recorder, which officer shall have himself previously taken the same oath, or before any officer authorized to administer oaths.
(c) The oaths required by subsection (a) hereof, after being taken and subscribed to by the respective officers, shall be delivered to the City Recorder and by him preserved in his office.
(d) If any elected or appointed City officer shall fail or refuse to take and subscribe to the oath of office prescribed by subsection (a) hereof within twenty days after his election or appointment, or on or before the date fixed for the beginning of his term of office in case his term does not begin within twenty days from his election or appointment, then such office shall become ipso facto vacant if the officer is one elected by the people; if not elected by the people, then his office may be declared vacant in the discretion of Council, and in every case, the vacancy shall be filled as prescribed by law.
(1972 Code §2-6-3 to 2-6-6)