The City shall be governed by an elected Mayor
and a City Council consisting of two elected Councilmen from each
ward, each of whom shall serve for a term of four years beginning
at 12:00 o'clock noon January 1 next following his election.
The Mayor and one Councilman from each ward shall be elected in the general election in which members of the general assembly are to be elected next following the date of adoption by any city of the provisions of this Act, and the remaining Councilman from each ward shall, except as provided in § C-56 of this Act, be elected at the second succeeding general election at which members of the general assembly are to be elected.
A.
No person shall be eligible as a candidate for election
as Mayor or qualified to serve as Mayor unless he shall be a citizen
of the United States and shall have resided in the City continuously
for a period of two years next preceding the date of his election
to office and continuously after the date of election and during his
term of office. No person shall be eligible for election or appointment
to the office of Councilman unless he shall be a citizen of the United
States and shall have resided:
(1)
In the City continuously for a period of two years
next preceding the date of his election or appointment to office;
and
(2)
In the ward which he is to represent continuously
for a period of one year next preceding the date of his election or
appointment to office and shall maintain each such residence after
his election or appointment, as the case may be.
B.
If any such person shall terminate the residency hereinbefore
required while a candidate, then the said position shall thereupon
become vacant and be filled as provided by law; if the termination
shall occur after election to office but before commencement of the
term thereof, then the said office shall be deemed vacant as of the
date of commencement of the term; if the required residency shall
cease during service in office, then the office shall be deemed immediately
vacant.
Vacancies occurring in any elective office shall
be filled by election for the remainder of the unexpired term at the
next general election occurring not less than 60 days thereafter,
and shall, until a successor is elected and qualified, be filled in
accordance with this article. Unless such vacancies occur not less
than 60 days prior to a primary election, nomination for such vacant
offices shall be made by the filing at least 40 days prior to such
general election with the County Clerk of:
A.
A statement duly certified by the members of the county
committee of a political party from the territory affected by such
vacancy setting forth the name of a candidate who shall thereupon
be the candidate of such political party at the general election.
B.
A petition directly nominating a candidate made in
the manner provided by law for the filling of vacancies in municipal
offices where candidates are nominated by direct petition for a general
election.
A.
The Mayor shall in case of his absence from the City
or his disability, such that he is unable to attend to the usual and
routine functions of his office, designate a City officer as Acting
Mayor for a period not exceeding 60 consecutive days. In the event
of the absence from the City or disability of the Mayor exceeding
60 consecutive days or vacancy in the office of the Mayor, the Chairman
of the City Council shall serve as Acting Mayor until such absence
shall terminate, disability be removed, or the vacancy be filled by
the election and qualification of a successor as provided by this
article. Any person serving as Acting Mayor shall be vested with all
the rights, powers and duties of Mayor; provided, however, that, during
the first 60 consecutive days of such absence or disability, no appointments
shall be made by the Acting Mayor except temporary appointments necessary
for the continuing function of government.
B.
Vacancies in the office of Councilman shall be filled
by an interim appointment of the City Council of a qualified person
from the same political party as the most recent incumbent thereof,
if elected as a nominee of a political party, until the election and
qualification of a successor as provided by this article.
