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.