|
THE DUTIES OF MAYOR
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)
|
Clintons
Classification Information
The Duties of
Mayor
The Duties of
Aldermen/Council Members
The Duties of
Recorder/Treasurer
City and Town
Council Rules of Procedure and Different Types of Meetings
Proper Ways to
Pass Ordinances and Resolutions
Personnel
Budgeting and
Finances
The Freedom of
Information Act
Complete Guidebook for Municipal
Officials, Handbook for Arkansas Municipal Officials, Procedural Rules for
Municipal Officials and the Handbook for Arkansas Municipal Clerks,
Recorders and Treasures are available in the City Clerk's office for you
convenience.
|
