§ 7.1. Mayor.

(a)

Term; election. The Mayor's term is four years. The Mayor is elected by the voters in a regular election held in each year following a year whose number is evenly divisible by four.

(b)

Duties. The Mayor must—

(1)

take care that all laws and ordinances are faithfully observed and enforced within the City;

(2)

take care that each other officer discharges his or her duties, for which purpose the Mayor may seek a writ of mandamus or other appropriate action against any delinquent officer;

(3)

recommend action in the City's interest by any other government;

(4)

address the City Council annually on the state of the City, and recommend appropriate measures for the City's physical and economic development; and

(5)

notify the City Council and any other interested board, commission, committee, or department of any litigation against the City.

(c)

Delegation. The Mayor may appoint a proxy or other representative to serve in his or her place on any board, commission, committee, or other public body of which he or she is a member. Any such appointment must expire not later than the Mayor's term expires.

(d)

Vacancy. Whenever the Mayor vacates his or her office before the year of the next regular election, or in that year before March 1, the City Council must provide for a special election filling the vacancy within 90 days after the vacancy occurs.

(e)

Succession.

(1)

Temporary vacancy. Whenever the Mayor cannot discharge his or her duties, or the office is vacant pending an election, then the Council president (or, if the Council president cannot act, the Council vice-president) must act as Mayor until the Mayor (or the Council president, if the vice-president is acting as Mayor) resumes his or her duties or a new Mayor takes office. Any action taken by the Council president or vice-president, or any other successor, acting as Mayor is as valid as if taken by the Mayor. Any successor acting as Mayor draws the Mayor's salary instead of the salary of the office by virtue of which he or she is acting as Mayor.

(2)

Succession plan. The City Council must by resolution adopt a succession plan, which must establish a line of succession beyond the Council vice-president. The Council must review the plan at each organizational meeting.

(f)

Resources. The City Council must provide for the staff and other resources that the Mayor needs for the effective performance of his or her duties.

(1)

Staff. For the Mayor's support, the Council must provide for at least—

(A)

one administrative deputy,

(B)

two administrative aides,

(C)

one administrative assistant,

(D)

one executive secretary, and

(E)

any other appropriate staff.

The Mayor may appoint any such staff without regard to section 8.4(b). The Mayor's staff serves in the unclassified service.

(2)

Contingent fund. The Council must annually appropriate a fund of not less than $5,000.00 for use at the Mayor's discretion. The Mayor may not contribute from this fund to any individual's political campaign. The Mayor must report each expense from this fund to the Council.