§ 2-3. Election of mayor; term of office and vice-mayor.

The mayor in office at the effective date of this Charter amendment is hereby continued in office for the term of office for which he was elected or extended by operation of Virginia Code § 24.2-222.1 and through December 31 of the year in which the term was to expire.

On the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year commencing 2012, the mayor shall be elected for a term of two years, beginning on January 1 of the year after his/her election. The mayor so elected shall continue to discharge the duties of the office until a successor has been qualified.

The mayor shall preside at all meetings of the council and shall be a regular member of the council.

The mayor shall be recognized as the head of the municipal government for all ceremonial purposes, the purpose of military law and the service of civil process.

The mayor shall authenticate by his signature such documents and instruments as the council, constitution or general laws require.

At its first regular meeting after January 1 in the year after the mayor is elected, the council shall elect from among its members a vice-mayor for a term of two years who shall act as mayor during the mayor's absence or disability.

(Acts 1971, ch. 81, § 1; Acts 1974, ch. 13, § 1; Acts 1977, ch. 407, § 1; Acts 1985, ch. 27, § 1; Ord. No. 2011-O-022, § I, 12-13-2011)

Statutory reference—Virginia Acts of Assembly 2012, ch. 306.