Section 1. In cities of the second class the executive power shall be vested in the mayor and in the departments authorized by this act.
The mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the city, and shall be at least twenty-five years of age, and have been a citizen and inhabitant of the State five years, and an inhabitant of the city for which he may be elected mayor five years next before his election, unless absent on the public business of the United States or of this State, and shall reside in said city during his term of service. He shall give bond in such sum as shall be determined by council. (Par. amended June 5, 1937, P.L.1743, No.367 and repealed in part Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53)
The mayor shall be chosen by a plurality of the votes cast at the municipal election, and shall hold his office for the term of four years from the first Monday of January next ensuing his election, and serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified. Election to said office of mayor shall not subsequently render anyone ineligible to that or any other office or position in said cities, any general, local, or special law to the contrary notwithstanding.
If two or more candidates be equal and highest in votes, one of them shall be chosen mayor by a vote of the majority of all the members of the incoming council, in joint convention assembled, immediately upon their organization.
When a vacancy shall take place in the office of the mayor a successor shall be elected for the unexpired term at the next municipal election occurring more than thirty days after the commencement of such vacancy, unless such election shall occur in the last year of said term, in which case a mayor, pro tempore, shall be chosen by council, in convention, by votes of the majority of members elected, and the person elected mayor shall hold office until the expiration of said term, and until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified, and it shall be the duty of the president of the council to issue a proclamation for such joint convention, to be held not less than ten days nor more than twenty days after such vacancy shall take place.
Until the vacancy is filled the president of council shall act as mayor.
It shall be the duty of the mayor:
I. To cause the ordinances of the city and the laws of the State to be executed and enforced.
II. To communicate to council, at least once a year, a statement of the finances and general condition of the affairs of the city, and also such information in relation to the same as council may from time to time require.
III. To recommend by message, in writing, to the council, all such measures connected with the affairs of the city, and the protection and improvement of its general government and finances, as he shall deem expedient.
IV. To call special meetings of council when required by public necessity.
V. To perform such duties as may be prescribed by law or ordinance; and he shall be responsible for the good order and efficient government of the city.
The mayor shall call together the heads of departments for consultation and advice upon the affairs of the city, at least once a month, and at such meetings he may call on the heads of departments for such reports as to the subject-matters under their control and management as he may deem proper, which it shall be their duty to prepare and submit at once to the mayor. Records shall be kept of such meetings; and rules and regulations shall be adopted thereat for the administration of the affairs of the city departments not inconsistent with any law or ordinance, which regulations shall prescribe a common and systematic method of ascertaining the comparative fitness of applicants for office, position and promotion, and of selecting, appointing and promoting those found to be the best fitted.
(1 amended May 1, 1923, P.L.112, No.86)