The executive power of the city shall be exercised by a mayor,
who shall be elected by the legal voters at a general election. The
mayor shall be elected to serve for a term of 4 years beginning January
1 next following his election.
A mayor shall have been a registered voter and a resident of
the city for at least 4 years immediately prior to the date on which
the election for the office is to be held, or prior to the date of
an appointment to the office, as the case may be. The mayor's
compensation shall be fixed by ordinance and may not be increased
or decreased during the term for which he or she was elected.
Whenever the mayor shall be unable to attend to the duties of
his or her office, due to his or her absence, disability or other
cause, for a period of less than 48 hours, the business administrator
or, in the event of his or her inability to serve, a department head
designated by the mayor in writing filed with the city clerk, shall
serve as acting mayor. Whenever the mayor shall be unable to attend
to the duties of his or her office:
(a) For a period of less than 48 hours and at a time when neither the
business administrator, nor a duly designated department head can
serve; or
(b) For a period of more than 48 consecutive hours; or
(c) At any time during an emergency declared by the council; a council
member designated under this section shall serve as acting mayor.
The mayor may at any time designate in writing filed with the city
clerk a council member to serve as acting mayor under the provisions
of this section. Whenever the provisions of this section require a
council member to serve as acting mayor and the mayor has failed to
make such a designation or the council member so designated by the
mayor is unable to serve, the council shall by a majority vote of
its whole number appoint an acting mayor from among its membership.
Any person appointed pursuant to this section shall succeed to all
of the rights, powers and duties of the mayor, until the mayor returns,
the disability or other cause ceases.
(d) A vacancy in the office of mayor for any of the reasons set forth
in N.J.S. 40A:16-3 shall be filled in accordance with the "Municipal
Vacancy Law," N.J.S. 40:A-16-1 et seq.
The mayor shall enforce the charter and ordinances of the city
and all general laws applicable thereto. He shall annually report
to the council and the public on the work of the previous year and
on the condition and requirements of the city government and shall
from time to time make such recommendations for action by the council
as he may deem in the public interest. He shall supervise the departments
of the city government and shall require each department to make an
annual and such other reports of its work as he may deem desirable.
The mayor shall make available to any council member, upon request,
any departmental report, official record or document.
The mayor shall have and exercise such additional duties and
powers as are prescribed by the charter to direct and supervise the
departments, to prepare and submit an executive budget, and to act
with respect to such other matters as may be provided by the charter
and ordinances of the city.
In the event of an emergency which represents an immediate,
clear and present danger to the public health, safety or welfare,
the mayor may assume the personal direction of any department, agency
or instrumentality of the city government as may, in his discretion,
be necessary to alleviate the emergency; and he may take such action
as he may deem necessary or desirable to that end.