The duties, of the office of mayor are many. All mayors are encouraged to become familiar with all the duties and responsibilities of the office of mayor Handbook for Arkansas Municipal Officials. The purposes of this Guidebook for Municipal Officials is to give a summa-ry and overview of the duties of mayor.

The Duties of the Mayor in the Mayor-Council Form of Government

The principal officer of all Arkansas cities and towns with the mayor/council form of government is the mayor. By virtue of this position, the mayor is ex-officio president of the council. It is the mayor's responsibility to keep the city government running properly. This includes the mayor's enforcing city ordinances and making sure that the residents receive maximum benefits and services for the taxes that they pay.

Legislative Duties of the Mayor

• In all municipalities in Arkansas, the mayor presides over the meetings of the council in cities and towns with the mayor/council form of government. The mayor may vote when the mayor's vote is needed to pass any ordinance, bylaw, resolution or motion (Hdbk. 14-43-501; 14-44-107; 14-45-105). Mayors in cities of the first and second class have a vote to establish a quorum (Hdbk. 14-43-501; 14-44-107). However, mayors in cities of the first class may do so only at the regular meetings.

• After the passage of an ordinance setting the procedure for special council meetings, the mayor has the authority to call the council into session for a special meeting (Hdbk. 14-43-502).

• The mayor is required to sign all ordinances, resolutions and city council minutes (Hdbk. 14-55-205).

• If provided by council rules, the mayor may introduce ordinances and resolutions and recommend policy (Hdbk. 14-43-504).

• The mayor in cities and towns with the mayor/council form of government may veto any ordinance, resolution or order adopted by the council. Councils may override the veto by two-thirds vote of the total membership of the council (Hdbk. 14-43-504; 14-44-107; 14-45-105).

• The vote to override should occur at the next regular council meeting (Hdbk. 14-43-504; 14-44-107; 14-45-105).

Administrative Duties of the Mayor

• Mayors of cities and towns with the mayor/council form of government are required to prepare and submit a budget to the city council for approval on or before December 1 of each year (See Chapter V).

• All mayors of cities of the first class must submit to the city council within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year a complete report on the financial and administrative activities of the city during the previous fiscal year (State of the City report) (Hdbk. 14-58-302).

• The mayor determines the day-to-day activities and supervises the city department heads and officers.

The Mayor's Duties of Appointment and Removal

Mayors in cities or towns with the mayor/council form of government have the power to appoint and remove all department heads, including police and fire chiefs, unless the city or town council votes to over-ride the mayor's action by a two-thirds majority of all council members. In cities with a civil service com-mission, the council may, by ordinance, delegate the authority to appoint and remove the police or fire chief to the city's civil service commission. Of course, the mayor may not appoint or remove department heads that are not under the control of the governing body of the city (Hdbk. 14-42-110).

Mayors may appoint:

• A board of library trustees (with city council approval) (Hdbk. 13-2-502)

• A director of a department of public safety (Hdbk. 14-42-421)
  • A health officer (Hdbk. 14-262-103)

•  An airport commission (with council approval) (Hdbk. 14-359-105)

•  A parks and recreation commission (Hdbk. 14-269-202 [with council confirmation] and 14-269-302 [with council confirmation])

•  A marshal in some second class cities (Hdbk. 14-44-111)