The term of office of all elected officers shall begin
at noon on January 1 next after their election, except that of the
Assessor, which shall begin on July 1 next following his election.
The Mayor shall hold office for four years and until
his successor has qualified. The Councilmen shall hold office for
three years and until their successors have qualified. Their terms
shall be arranged so that the terms of two Councilmen shall expire
at the end of each year.
Whenever the Mayor presents to the Council his resignation
from office, the resignation may be accepted by a vote of the Council
and the office of Mayor shall thereupon be deemed vacant.
A vacancy occurring in the office of Mayor, whether
by resignation or otherwise, shall be filled by the Council until
the next annual election and until the election and qualification
of a successor. At the next annual election the person elected to
fill the vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term only.
Other elective offices. All vacancies in other elective
offices shall be filled by nomination by the Mayor and appointment
by him with the advice and consent of the Council, expressed by the
vote of a majority of the members of the Council present at the meeting,
provided that at least three affirmative votes shall be required for
such purpose, the Mayor to have no vote thereon except in the case
of a tie.
All vacancies occurring in any elective office, except
the office of Assessor, shall be filled by appointment until January
1, and all vacancies occurring in the office of Assessor shall be
filled by appointment until July 1, following the next annual election
and until the election and qualification of a successor.
If a vacancy occurs at so short a period of time before
the next annual election that the office cannot be filled at the election,
the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as though it had occurred
immediately after the election, and the vacancy shall then be filled
at the next subsequent annual election for the portion of the term,
if any, as may still remain unexpired.