CHAPTER 5: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL

Section

1-5-1 Composition; election

1-5-2 Terms of office

1-5-3 Mayor

1-5-4 Mayor Pro Tem

1-5-5 Powers and duties of Council

1-5-6 Qualifications

1-5-7 Financial interest prohibited

1-5-8 Compensation

1-5-9 Vacancies

1-5-10 Oath of office

1-5-11 Regular and special Council meetings

§ 1-5-1 COMPOSITION; ELECTION.

   The legislative affairs of the town shall be vested in a Council consisting of seven Council members, all of whom shall be nominated and elected at large from the town.

(Charter(1972) § 3.1)

§ 1-5-2 TERMS OF OFFICE.

   The terms of office for Council members shall be four years; provided, however, that no Council member shall serve for more than eight consecutive years. In the regular municipal election to be held in 1973, the three candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected for four-year terms and the four candidates receiving the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh highest number of votes shall serve for two-year terms. In the municipal election to be held in 1975 and thereafter, the three candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected for four-year terms and the candidate receiving the fourth highest number of votes shall be elected for a two-year term. If a vacancy exists, those candidates receiving the fifth, sixth and seventh highest number of votes, depending upon the number of vacancies to be filled, shall be elected for two-year terms.

(Charter(1972) § 3.2)

§ 1-5-3 MAYOR.

   (A)   Elected from Council. The Mayor shall be elected from the duly elected Council by a majority vote at its first organizational meeting to be held within seven days from the election, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Council for a two-year term.

   (B)   Mayoral powers and duties. The Mayor shall preside at meetings of the Council and shall exercise such powers and perform such other duties as are or may be conferred and imposed upon the Mayor by the Charter or by ordinance or other applicable law. The Mayor shall have all of the powers, rights and privileges of a Council member including the right to vote; however, the Mayor’s vote shall be registered after all other votes are cast. The Mayor shall be recognized as the head of the town government for all ceremonial and legal purposes and shall execute and authenticate legal instruments requiring the Mayor’s signature as such official. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Mayor, the Council shall choose his or her successor.

(Charter(1972) § 3.3)