2336                                    MUNICIPAL CHARTERS

their appointment or election as practicable, and unless they resign or are removed
for cause, shall continue to serve until their successors are duly elected and
installed. The term of each elected official shall begin with the first meeting of the
Council following his election, and shall continue until the first meeting of the
Council following the election of his successor.

B.   (2.) ELECTED OFFICIALS: VACANCIES. If a vacancy occurs in the
office of the Mayor, a Mayor will be elected by the Council from among the duly
elected membership of the Council to serve until the first Council meeting
following the next general election; if said election occurs in an odd-numbered
year, a Mayor shall be elected for a term of one year. If a vacancy occurs in the
office of Councilman, a Councilman will be elected by the Council, from among
the registered voters of the City who possess all of the qualifications herein
provided for elective officials, to serve until the first Council meeting following the
next general election. Officials elected by the Council to fill a vacant office shall be
installed at the first meeting of the Council following their election by the Council.

C.    MAYOR: POWERS AND DUTIES. The Mayor shall be the chief
executive officer of the City, and the head of the administrative branch of the City
government. As such the Mayor shall be responsible for and direct the day-to-day
operations of all City departments and shall directly supervise the activities of the
various City officers and department heads. The Mayor shall be responsible for
enforcing the ordinances and carrying out the policies of the City. The Mayor shall
exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as are or may be
conferred and imposed upon him by this Charter, by the ordinances of the City,
and by policy or by directive of the Council. The Mayor shall be the chief financial
officer of the City. He shall be recognized as the head of the City government for
all ceremonial purposes, by the Courts for serving civil process, and by the
Governor of the State of Maryland for the purpose of military law. The Mayor
shall have the power to veto ordinances passed by the Council as provided in
Section 10 of this Charter. The Mayor shall exercise the same veto powers over
any resolution in the same manner provided for the veto of ordinances. The Mayor
shall provide to the Council such staff assistance and such information concerning
the administrative branch of the government as the Council may require for the
exercise of its legislative powers and duties. The Mayor or his representative shall
attend all public meetings of the Council. The Mayor may recommend to the
Council such measures for legislative action as he may deem to be in the best
interests of the City. The Mayor shall receive such salary or compensation as the
Council shall fix, except that no increase or decrease shall go into effect until
approved by the voters at the next general election. The Mayor shall not hold any
other office of the municipal corporation during his term of office. At the first
meeting of each new Council, there shall be elected by the Council a member to be
designated as Mayor Pro Tern. In case of the temporary absence or disability of
the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tern shall act as Mayor during such absence or
disability.

D.  COUNCIL: POWERS AND DUTIES. The Council shall be the legislative
body of the City, and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as are or
may be conferred upon it by this Charter, the General Assembly, and by
Ordinances of this City, including, but not limited to, the enactment of all
ordinances, resolutions and policies consistent with the provisions of this Charter
AND NOT CONTRARY TO THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE
STATE OF MARYLAND. The members of the Council shall receive such salary
or compensation as the Council shall fix, provided that any increase in salary or
compensation voted by the Council shall not go into effect until approved by the
voters at the next general election. At the first meeting of each new Council, the
Council shall elect from among its members a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman.
The Chairman of the Council will act as presiding officer during meetings of the