The executive branch shall consist of a Mayor and as many departments
as he shall recommend be ordained and established with the approval
of City Council.
The Mayor shall be elected at large by the qualified electors
of the City of Scranton in conformity with the procedures for nomination
and election of the Mayor as established by the general laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for municipal elections. The term of
office shall be four years commencing at noon on the first Monday
of January following the year in which he is elected and ending at
the commencement of the term for which his successor is elected, except
that a Mayor appointed to fill a vacancy shall follow procedures stated
in Article III-Section 309.
The Mayor shall receive a salary as recommended by Council and
outlined in the Administrative Code.
The Mayor shall be a citizen of the United States, a resident
of the city and a qualified voter for at least one year prior to his
election and shall reside in the City of Scranton throughout his term
of service.
The Mayor shall not hold any other compensated city office or
employment during the term for which he is elected as Mayor, and no
former Mayor shall hold any compensated appointive city office or
employment nor shall be act as a paid consultant to the city until
one year following the expiration of the term for which he is elected
as Mayor.
The office of Mayor shall become vacant upon his death, resignation,
removal, forfeiture of his office, or failure to assume such office
within thirty (30) days after the commencement of the term thereof.
The Mayor shall forfeit his office if he lacks at any time during
his term of office any qualifications prescribed by this charter or
by law or is convicted of a felony, or a crime in violation of public
trust or is found in violation of the Code of Ethics by Council.
Should a vacancy occur in the office of Mayor, the City Council
shall fill such vacancy within thirty (30) days and in the ensuing
period the President of Council shall serve as Acting Mayor. If by
reason of a tie vote or otherwise, a vacancy in the office of Mayor
shall not have been filled by the Council within the time as limited
herein, the Court of Common Pleas shall fill such vacancy by appointment
of a qualified person for the portion of the unexpired term as herein
provided.
The Mayor, prior to assuming office, shall take and shall sign
an oath of office as prescribed by the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. Such oath may be taken and signed before any judge,
district magistrate, or notary public of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
and no person shall be permitted to assume such office until the oath
is filed with the city in written form.
The Mayor shall have the following specific powers, duties,
and authority:
(1)
All the normal powers that traditionally accrue to executive authority.
(2)
Full charge and control of all executive departments in the city.
(3)
Appoint a Deputy Mayor who may act as Mayor only in the event the
Mayor cannot fulfill his duties due to illness or temporary absence
from the city.
(4)
The power to veto ordinances and resolutions except those affecting
the internal operation of council.
(5)
Prescribe order in the city.
(6)
Enforce ordinances and regulations in the city.
(7)
The duty to sign such papers, contracts, obligations, and documents
that are properly presented to him, as required by law.
(8)
Report to the citizenry and Council from time to time regarding the
state of affairs of the City.
(9)
Represent the City in deliberations with intergovernmental bodies.
(10)
Subject to any ordinance of the city establishing standards for appointment,
promotion, or discharge of employees, he shall have the power to designate,
promote or discharge all city employees except those controlled by
Civil Service.
(11)
Power to suspend, with or without pay, all executive department employees.
(12)
Authority to negotiate intergovernmental agreements with the approval
of Council.
(13)
Draft and propose a budget.
(14)
Authority to appoint and dissolve voluntary committees of interested
citizens to assist and advise him on all issues and matters pertaining
to his office.
(15)
Authority to appoint, suspend, and remove members of his own staff
as may be authorized in the budget.
(16)
Enforce any emergency powers that Council may establish by ordinance
to preserve health, welfare, and safety of the citizenry.
(17)
Negotiate contracts.
(18)
Execute all contracts authorized by Council.
In the executive branch there shall be established a Department
of Administration, a Department of Public Safety, a Department of
Public Works, a Department of Community Development and a Department
of Law. There is hereby established the position of "Business Administrator"
which position shall be filled by appointment of the Mayor with the
advice and consent of Council by an individual who shall be chosen
solely on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications
with special reference to his training and/or experience in municipal
management. The Business Administrator shall be responsible for assisting
the Mayor and the operating departments. The Business Administrator
shall make periodic reports with recommendations to the Mayor on the
affairs of the City Government. The heads of the various departments
report to the Business Administrator, who in turn shall be accountable
to the Mayor. The Business Administrator shall also be the director
of a Department of Administration which shall be established and maintained
in the administrative structure of the City of Scranton. The Department
of Administration, under the direction of the Business Administrator,
shall have the following responsibilities:
(1)
Assisting the Mayor in the preparation of the annual budget.
(2)
Administration of the annual budget once it is adopted by the Council
including the installation of quarterly allotments within each department.
(3)
Administration of a centralized purchasing system.
(4)
Establishment and administration of a centralized personnel system.
(5)
Management of the property of the city.
(6)
The development and administration of a system of performance reporting
and such other management and administrative responsibilities as may
be assigned to it from time to time by the Mayor or the Council.
