The person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of Councilman,
Tax Collector or Auditor and the person assuming the position of Acting
Mayor to fill a vacancy in the said office of Mayor shall be entitled
to hold said office for the balance of the unexpired term, so long
as he shall continue to possess the qualifications pertinent to the
office, except when the vacancy shall occur within 18 months after
the commencement of the term for which he was elected, in which case
the person appointed to fill such vacancy shall serve only until the
first Monday of January of the first even-numbered year following
his assumption of office or appointment. The balance of such unexpired
term shall be filled by a person elected by the qualified voters of
the Borough at the municipal election in the year preceding such first
Monday of January. In any case, where Council shall refuse or neglect
or be unable for any reason whatever to fill any vacancy required
to be filled by it hereunder within the forty-five-day period aforesaid,
the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County shall, upon petition
of Council or of any five citizens of the Borough, fill the vacancy
by the appointment of a qualified resident of the Borough, who shall
hold such office for the same period as if he had assumed or been
appointed to such office as aforesaid.