The Mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the City and
shall have and exercise all the executive power of the City.
Any person shall be eligible for the office of Mayor who shall
be a qualified voter and have been a resident of the City of Bridgeton
for at least three (3) years immediately prior to his election and
who shall have attained the age of thirty (30) years at the time of
his election, except any person who shall have been convicted of malfeasance
in office, bribery, or other corrupt practice.
The Mayor shall be elected by the qualified voters of the City
of Bridgeton. At the first (1st) election under this Charter the candidate
receiving the greatest number of votes for Mayor shall serve until
the regular municipal election in the year 1971, and until his successor
has been duly elected and qualified. Thereafter, the candidate receiving
the greatest number of votes for Mayor at the regular municipal election
in 1971, and each four (4) years thereafter, shall serve for a term
of four (4) years and until his successor has been duly elected and
qualified. There shall be no prohibition against a Mayor serving successive
terms in office.
The Mayor shall receive a monthly salary of one hundred fifty
dollars ($150.00), payable monthly. The City Council may by ordinance,
adopted at least six (6) months prior to the next Mayoral election,
alter the compensation of the Mayor but such change shall not be effective
until the completion of the current term of office of the then Mayor.
The Mayor shall receive fifty dollars ($50.00) each month for expenses
incurred in the performance of his City office. Any additional expenses
must be approved for payment by the City Council.
The Mayor shall have the following powers and duties in addition
to all other powers and duties specifically conferred upon him by
this Charter and by the general statutes of the State of Missouri:
A. He shall preside over meetings of the Council. He may discuss issues
arising in meetings of the Council, but shall have a vote only when
the members of the Council, present and voting, are equally divided,
in which case he may cast the deciding vote.
B. He shall have the power to call special meetings of the Council by
giving notice as provided by the rules of the Council.
C. He shall have power to veto resolutions and ordinances adopted by
the Council. If the Mayor fails to sign an ordinance or resolution
or to veto it by returning with his written objections to the City
Council at the first (1st) regular meeting which is held at least
one (1) week after passage of such ordinance or resolution, it shall
become effective the same as if it had been signed by the Mayor. No
ordinance or resolution to which the Mayor has filed his objections
with the Council shall become effective unless adopted over his objections
in the following manner:
The City Clerk shall read the message containing the objections
of the Mayor, whereupon the presiding officer shall put the question,
"Shall the ordinance be adopted notwithstanding the objections of
the Mayor?" A roll call vote shall be recorded in the journal and
if at least six (6) members vote in the affirmative the ordinance
or resolution shall take effect the same as if it had been signed
by the Mayor.
D. The Mayor shall appoint, subject to the approval of the City Council,
a City Administrator, City Clerk, Chief of Police, City Attorney,
City Engineer, such other officers as are designated in this Charter
or by law to be appointed by the Mayor, and members of all boards
and commissions whose appointments are not otherwise provided for
in this Charter. If any appointment made by the Mayor is rejected
by the City Council, the Mayor may make a temporary appointment of
a person with the required qualifications to serve until an appointee
named by him or her to such office is approved by the Council. In
all such cases, however, within sixty (60) days after the rejection
of such permanent nominee the Mayor shall submit to the Council the
name of some person, other than such rejected nominee, for permanent
appointment to such office, board, or commission.
[Ord. No. 24-08, 1-17-2024]
E. He shall have the power to remove the City officers in accordance
with the provisions of this Charter and the laws of the State of Missouri.
F. He shall appoint an administrative assistant.
G. He shall sign all proclamations and executive orders which are issued
in performance of his powers and duties, and shall sign in behalf
of the City all instruments, contracts, agreements, leases, deeds,
mortgages, bonds, and other instruments binding the City or conveying
an interest in property or other rights of the City to any other corporation,
association, legal entity, or person.
H. He shall represent the City in all negotiations with the State, County,
and other municipalities and political subdivisions, and represent
the City in such organizations as leagues of municipalities or in
any organization in which Cities are to be represented by the head
of the City government.
I. He may request and shall be furnished written reports and opinions
from the City Attorney, heads of all boards and commissions of the
City, and such other officers and officials as are appointed by the
Mayor, except the judge of the municipal court.
J. He shall, at least once every six (6) months, present to the City
Council a message summarizing the progress made by the City, the financial
condition of the City, major problems of the City which remain unsolved,
a constructive program designed to cope with these problems, suggestions
of possible legislation to effect such programs, and advising on matters
which he deems appropriate to call to the attention of the Council.
K. He shall provide for an independent annual audit of all City accounts
and may provide for such more frequent audits as are deemed necessary.
Such audits shall be made by a certified public accountant or firm
of such accountants who have no personal interest, indirect or direct,
in the fiscal affairs of the City government or any of its officers.
The City Council may, without requiring competitive bids, designate
such accountant firm annually or for a period not exceeding three
(3) years, provided that the designation for any particular fiscal
year shall be made not later than thirty (30) days after the beginning
of such fiscal year. If the State makes such an audit, the Council
may accept it as satisfying these requirements.
L. He shall approve all surety bonds required by this Charter or by
ordinance.
M. He shall prepare and submit to the Council the annual budget and
appropriation bill and be responsible for the administration thereof.
N. He shall cause the laws and ordinances of the City to be enforced.
O. He shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter
or required by ordinance not inconsistent with this Charter.