There shall be a mayor who shall be elected
at the regular town election for a term of two years and until his
successor is elected and qualified. The term of the mayor shall begin
on the second Monday of January following his election.
The mayor shall be a legal resident of the town
for at least one year next preceding his election, and a qualified
elector of the town.
The mayor shall receive an annual salary of
eight thousand dollars or such other salary as may be prescribed by
ordinance, but his salary shall not be changed after the filing of
nomination papers for the office or during the term of office for
which he was elected.
To perform his duties during his temporary absence
or disability, the mayor may designate a qualified present administrative
officer of the town by letter filed with the town clerk. In the event
of failure of the mayor to make such designation, the town council
may by resolution appoint a present officer of the town to perform
the duties of the mayor until he shall return or his disability shall
cease. While serving as acting mayor, said designated officer shall
not make any appointments or removals, other than temporary appointments,
until he shall have served as acting mayor for thirty consecutive
days.
If the vacancy is caused by disability or absence
from work of the mayor, such disability or absence being for at least
thirty-five days, such vacancy if not created by resignation or death
of the mayor, may be declared by the town council upon the recommendation
by a commission composed of five persons, vi: The judge of probate,
the town solicitor, the director of the health department of the town,
the president of the town council, and a fifth member who shall be
a physician chosen by the town council. In the event of a vacancy
in the office of mayor, caused by resignation or death, the town council
shall appoint a qualified voter of the town to fill such vacancy if
less than six calendar months remain until a regular election. If
the time between the ocurrence[1] of said vacancy and the next regular election is six months
or more, the town clerk shall call a special election in the manner
prescribed by law, to fill said vacancy in the office of mayor. (1965,
Jan. Sess., ch. 227, Sec. 1; approved at special election held on
June 22, 1965)
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original. Probably should
read "occurrence."
The mayor shall be the chief executive and administrative
officer of the town and shall be responsible for the administration
of all departments, offices and agencies except as otherwise provided
by this Charter. To accomplish this purpose he shall;
(1)
Appoint and remove for cause any officer or employee
of the town except as otherwise provided by this Charter, and except
that he may authorize the head of a department or office to appoint
and remove subordinates in such departments or offices;
(2)
Notify the town council of all his appointments, which
shall be in writing and filed with the town clerk within five days
of the appointments;
(3)
Supervise, control and direct the activities and operations
of all departments and administrative officers of the town within
his jurisdiction and review all rules and regulations of the various
departments and administrative offices and only upon his approval
shall they become effective;
(4)
Enforce or cause to be enforced the laws, and ordinances
of the Town of Johnston;
(5)
See that the terms and conditions imposed in favor
of the town in any contract or franchise are faithfully kept and performed
and be responsible for the care and preservation of property and equipment
of the town;
(6)
Negotiate contracts on behalf of the town with the
approval of the town council, which contracts are in accord with the
provisions of this Charter;
(7)
Prepare the budget annually, and submit it to the
town council for appropriate action, and execute the budget in accordance
with appropriations and ordinances adopted by the council;
(8)
Prepare and submit to the town council a comprehensive
annual report of the financial transactions and administrative activities
of the town within two months after the close of each fiscal year,
and prepare and make available for distribution to the public, within
three months after the end of each fiscal year, an annual report on
town affairs during that fiscal year and keep the town council advised
quarterly of the financial conditions and needs of the town and make
such recommendations as he may deem necessary;
(9)
Recommend to the town council such measures as he
may consider necessary and expedient for enactment;
(10)
Possess and exercise the time veto power in the following
manner; every ordinance enacted by the town council shall be submitted
to the mayor who within ten consecutive days either shall approve
the ordinance by affixing his signature or shall return the ordinance
to the town council with his disapproval by transmitting it to the
town clerk with a statement of his objections. No ordinance shall
take effect without the approval of the mayor unless the town council
upon reconsideration shall approve the ordinance by vote of four-fifths
of all its members notwithstanding the disapproval of the mayor. If
the mayor shall neither approve nor disapprove the measure within
ten consecutive days from the time when it is submitted to him it
shall be deemed to be approved and enacted. The mayor may disapprove
any individual item in a budget or appropriation ordinance in the
manner provided for disapproval of an ordinance;
(11)
Have power and authority to declare a state of municipal
emergency in the event of a disaster, catastrophe or other similar
event, or the imminent danger thereof, which endangers the health,
safety or resources of the people of the town and to take such lawful
action as he deems necessary to protect the health, safety and security
of the town and its inhabitants;
(12)
Be recognized as official head of the town government
for all ceremonial purposes and by the governor for purpose of military
law;
(13)
Perform such other duties as may be required of him
by ordinance of the town council.
