There is hereby established the Office of Mayor of the City, the incumbent of which shall be a citizen of the United States, at least eighteen (18) years of age, a qualified voter, residing within the City for at least twelve (12) months prior to his election. The Mayor shall be elected by a majority vote of the qualified voters in the City; he/she shall hold his office for four (4) years and/or until his/her successor is elected and qualified, unless sooner removed as provided by this Article. The Mayor shall be elected in even numbered years. The City, as referred to herein, shall be deemed to include the City and any and all territory at any time annexed to the City of Hempstead.
a. 
Head of City Government -
The Mayor shall be the Chief Administrative and Executive Officer of the City. The Mayor shall devote his/her best efforts to and shall be responsible for the proper administration of its affairs. The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Council and shall be recognized as the head of the City Government for all ceremonial purposes, for the purpose of receiving civil process, for emergency purposes, and for military purposes.
b. 
Disability of the Mayor -
If for any reason the Mayor fails, is unable or refuses to perform the duties of his office, the Mayor Pro Tern shall act as Mayor during such absence or disability shall possess all of the powers and perform all of the duties of the Mayor and is entitled to receive the fees and compensation prescribed for the Mayor.
(Ordinance 13-105 adopted 2/25/2013; Amended by Ordinance 24-113 adopted 5/14/2024 at an election held on May 4, 2024, prop. A)
Each year, at the first regular meeting of the City Council after the newly elected Officials have been inducted into office, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Mayor shall select one of the Councilmembers who shall be known and designated as “Mayor Pro Tem,” and shall continue to hold the title and the office until a successor is appointed, but shall receive no extra pay by reason of being or acting [as] Mayor Pro Tem. In case of the death, resignation, or for any other reason the Mayor Pro Tem is unable to serve, causing a vacancy to occur, then the Mayor shall select one of the Councilmembers who shall be known and designated as “Mayor Pro Tem,” and shall continue to hold the title and the office until a successor is appointed, but shall receive no extra pay by reason of being or acting [as] Mayor Pro Tem.
(Ordinance 13-105 adopted 2/25/2013)
In the event of the absence, refusal to act, disability, or disqualification of both the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem at any particular meeting of the Council, the remaining members of the Council shall by election designate one of their members as Acting Mayor and he/she shall act as Mayor for such particular meeting and shall have power to perform every act except the power to remove or suspend officers and employees the Mayor could perform if present.
(Ordinance 13-105 adopted 2/25/2013)
If the Mayor is absent for three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the Council, without being sick or first having obtained a leave of absence at a regular meeting, the office is declared vacated.
(Ordinance 13-105 adopted 2/25/2013)
In case of the death, resignation, or permanent disability of the Mayor, or if she/he ceases to possess any of the qualifications listed in Section 1 of this Article, or if he/she ceases to reside in the City, his office shall immediately become vacant; or whenever a vacancy in the Office of Mayor shall occur for any reason, the Mayor Pro Tem shall act as Mayor, and shall possess all of the rights and powers of the Mayor and perform all of his duties, under the official title, however, of “Mayor Pro Tem” until the next available uniform election date, at which time a Mayor shall be elected to fill the unexpired portion of the current Mayor's term.
(Ordinance 13-105 adopted 2/25/2013)
a. 
General Powers of the Mayor -
The Mayor shall have and exercise such powers, prerogatives and authority, acting independently of or in concert with the City Council, as are conferred by the provisions of this Article or as may be conferred upon him by the City Council, not inconsistent with the general purposes and provisions of the Charter, and shall have the power to administer oaths. Subject to the confirmation of the Council, he shall have the power to appoint all boards and commissions.
b. 
Additional Powers and Duties -
All the Administrative work of the City Government shall be under the control of the Mayor. Among others, the powers and duties of the Mayor shall be as follows:
1. 
To see that all laws and ordinances are enforced.
2. 
To exercise administrative control over all departments of the City.
3. 
To make from time to time such recommendations to the Council as the Mayor may deem to be for the welfare of the City, and each year to submit to the Council the annual budget of the current expenses of the City in accordance with the requirements of the State law applicable to cities and towns.
4. 
To keep the Council at all times fully advised as to the financial conditions and needs of the City.
5. 
In case of general conflagration, rioting, earthquakes, or other emergency menacing life and property, the Mayor, or in his absence, the Mayor Pro Tem, shall be authorized to marshal all the forces of the different departments of the City for the maintenance of the general security, and shall have the power to deputize, or otherwise employ, such other persons as he may consider necessary for the purpose of protecting the City and its residents.
(Ordinance 13-105 adopted 2/25/2013)
The Mayor shall not be entitled to vote upon matters considered by the Council, except in the event of a tie Council vote, and the Mayor may, in his/her sole discretion fail or refuse to vote and such vote shall not be recorded as a negative or affirmative vote.
(Ordinance 13-105 adopted 2/25/2013)
The Mayor shall have the authority to delegate such duties as she/he shall deem necessary to a department head and the power to perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter; and the power to perform such other duties as may be required of him/her by the Council, not inconsistent with this Charter.
(Ordinance 13-105 adopted 2/25/2013)
From and after the effective date of this Charter, the annual salary of the Mayor shall be determined by the Council.
(Ordinance 13-105 adopted 2/25/2013)
If any section, subsection, clause, sentence, or phrase of this Article is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of this Article, or any remaining portions of this Article.
(Ordinance 13-105 adopted 2/25/2013)