SECTION 24. SUCCESSION OF MAYOR AND ACTING MAYOR.

   (a)    When the Mayor is temporarily absent from the City, or is unable for any cause to perform their duties, the President of Council shall serve as acting Mayor but shall not thereby cease to be the President of Council, and shall exercise the powers and duties of both offices, except that they shall not have the power to veto ordinances or resolutions.

   (b)    In case of the death, recall, resignation or removal of the Mayor, the President of Council may succeed the Mayor, at which time they shall cease to be President of Council. Should they elect to retain the office of President of Council and decline the office of Mayor, they may do so by filing written notice to this effect with the Clerk of Council within ten days after the date the vacancy occurred. In this event, and provided that at least one year shall remain to be served on the term of office of the former Mayor, a special election shall be held to elect a successor to the Mayor. Candidates for the office of Mayor shall file nominating petitions signed by that number of electors equal to at least seven percent of the number of electors voting at the next preceding regular municipal election of the City for the office of Mayor within fifteen (15) days after the President of Council files the written notice that they decline to succeed to the office of Mayor. Said petitions shall be filed with the Board of Elections. The Council shall, by a majority vote of its members, fix a day for such special election not more than forty-five days after the President of Council files the written notice that they decline to succeed to the office of Mayor. The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes at such special election shall succeed to the office of Mayor and shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. The President of Council shall serve as Acting Mayor until a successor is chosen at such special election, and shall exercise the powers and duties of both offices, except that they shall not have the power to veto ordinances or resolutions.

   (c)    In the event the President of Council shall decline to succeed to the office of Mayor and less than one year remains to be served on the term of office of the former Mayor, the City Council shall appoint any elected City Official to fulfill the remainder of the Mayoral term.
(Amended 11-6-18.)