[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981; Amending Ord. 03-333 approved by electorate on April 6, 2004, to be effective on April 3, 2007 Mayoral Election]
The executive power in the City shall be vested in a mayor who shall be recognized as the head of the City government for all legal and ceremonial purposes and by the Governor of Missouri for all purposes of military law. The mayor shall devote full-time to the duties of the office. The mayor shall not at any time while serving in office carry on any trade, occupation, business or enterprise for personal pecuniary profit or gain during the normal business hours of the City of St. Charles.
[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981]
The mayor shall be elected by the qualified registered voters of the City at-large at the regular municipal election. The mayor shall hold office for a term of four years. The mayor shall be a qualified registered voter of the City, shall have been a resident of the City for the two years immediately preceding the election, and shall be at least 30 years of age at the time the mayor assumes office.
[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981; Amending Ord. 03-333 approved by electorate on April 6, 2004, to be effective on April 3, 2007 Mayoral Election]
The mayor shall have the following powers and duties and shall perform the following functions in addition to those conferred upon the mayor by other portions of this charter and by all the general statutes of the State of Missouri:
(a) 
Participation In Council Meetings. The mayor shall not be a member of the council, but shall have the right to participate in the deliberations at all the meetings of the council.
(b) 
Power Of Veto. The mayor shall have the power of veto in respect to ordinances and resolutions adopted by the council, and when invoked, this power shall be exercised pursuant to the provisions of this charter.
(c) 
Execution Of Laws, Provisions Of The Charter, Ordinances, Resolutions, Motions, Rules And Regulations. The mayor shall take care that the laws, provisions of this charter, ordinances, resolutions, motions of the council, rules and regulations of the City be faithfully executed. The mayor may require oral or written reports and opinions from the directors of all executive departments of the City or from the directors of other departments, boards, and commissions of the City, except the judge of the municipal court.
(d) 
Administration Of Departments. The mayor, or designee, shall direct and supervise the administration of all departments, offices and agencies of the City, except as otherwise provided by this charter or by law.
(e) 
Appointments And Removal Power. With the approval of a majority vote of the entire council, the mayor shall appoint all department directors, except as otherwise provided by this charter. Department directors shall be chosen on the basis of qualifications, with special reference to experience in or knowledge of the duties performed by the particular department, and such further qualifications that may be required by ordinances, or by this charter. The mayor may suspend or remove all City employees, including department directors and appointed administrative officers provided under this charter, except as otherwise provided by law, this charter or the personnel code to be adopted pursuant to this charter.
(f) 
Appointment Of Boards And Commissions. Except as provided in Section 3.16 of this charter, the mayor shall have the power to appoint members of all boards and commissions provided for in the administrative code with the approval of a majority of the entire City council unless otherwise required by law.
[Approved by electorate, April 7, 1998]
(g) 
Administration Of Oaths. The mayor shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations and shall commission all officers of the City except as otherwise provided in this charter.
(h) 
Execution Of Documents. The mayor shall sign all proclamations and executive orders and the mayor, or the mayor's designee, shall sign on behalf of the City all instruments, contracts, agreements, leases, deeds, mortgages and other instruments binding the City or conveying an interest in property or other right of the City to any other corporation, association, legal entity or natural person.
(i) 
Messages To Council. The mayor shall from time to time deliver to the council orally, or in writing, messages suggesting to the council possible legislation and advising on matters which the mayor deems should be called to the attention of the council.
(j) 
Report Of Financial Condition Of City. The mayor shall keep the council fully apprised as to the financial condition and future needs of the City and make such recommendations to the council concerning the affairs of the City as the mayor deems desirable.
(k) 
Finance And Administrative Report. The mayor shall submit to the council and make available to the public a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the City as of the end of each fiscal year.
(l) 
Other Reports. The mayor shall submit to the council such other reports as may be requested by the council concerning the operations of City departments, offices and agencies subject to the mayor's direction and supervision.
(m) 
Budget And Capital Program. Each year the mayor shall submit a budget for the ensuing year and a five-year capital program for consideration of the council as required by sections 8.3 and 8.4 of this charter.
(n) 
Remission Of Fine Or Jail Sentence. The mayor shall have the power, upon a proper showing, to remit a fine or jail sentence imposed upon any person other than the mayor by the municipal court.
[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981; Amending Ord. 03-333 approved by electorate on April 6, 2004, to be effective on April 3, 2007 Mayoral Election]
Compensation of the mayor shall be established by ordinance. The council shall not change the compensation of any mayor, except by September 1, next prior to the election of the mayor, to take effect at the beginning of the next term of office for mayor.
[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981; Amendment approved by electorate, April 7, 1987; Amendment approved by electorate, August 4, 1992]
(a) 
The office of mayor shall be deemed vacant or forfeit for the same reason that the councilmembers' office shall be deemed vacant or forfeit under section 3.8 of this charter. If a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor, the president of the council as mayor pro-tem shall have all the powers and perform all the duties of the office until a special municipal election is called for the purpose of electing a mayor. Said election shall be called within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy, except when the vacancy occurs within the six months immediately preceding the expiration of the mayor's term, the mayor pro-tem shall continue to act as mayor until a mayor is elected at the regular election.
(b) 
Whenever the mayor transmits to the president of the City council a written declaration that the mayor is unable because of absence from the City or other disability to discharge the powers and duties of the office of mayor, the president shall exercise the powers and duties of the office of mayor, as the mayor pro-tem, until the mayor transmits to the mayor pro-tem a written declaration that the inability no longer exists.
(c) 
Whenever two-thirds of the members of the City council declare that the mayor is unable because of disability to discharge the powers and duties of the office of mayor, the president of the City council shall immediately exercise the powers and duties of the office of mayor, as the mayor pro-tem. Thereafter, when the mayor transmits to the mayor pro-tem a written declaration that no inability exists, the mayor shall resume the powers and duties of the office of mayor, unless a majority of the members of the City council transmit within 48 hours to the mayor pro-tem their written declaration that the mayor is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of mayor. Thereupon, the council shall meet within 48 hours to decide the issue. If the council determines by two-thirds vote of the members of the council that the mayor is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of mayor then the mayor pro-tem shall continue to exercise the powers and duties of the office of mayor as the mayor pro-tem until a new mayor is elected, or until the council determines that the inability does not exist. When the council fails to determine, as described above, that the mayor is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of mayor, the mayor shall resume the powers and duties of that office.
(d) 
As acting mayor, the mayor pro-tem shall have the veto power and shall vote as a councilmember.
[R.O. 2011; Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981]
Except where authorized by law, or pursuant to an agreement between the City and another entity of government, the mayor shall not hold any other City office, City employment or other elected public office during the term for which the mayor was elected as the mayor, and no former mayor shall hold any compensated appointive City office or City employment until one year after the expiration of the term for which the former mayor was elected as mayor.