Chapter 2.08
MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEMPORE
Sections:
2.08.010 Designated executive officer – Responsibilities generally.
2.08.020 Appointment authority – Scope.
2.08.030 Oath, affidavit, certification and signing powers.
2.08.040 Mayor pro tempore – Election – Duties – Scope of powers.
2.08.050 Duty to preside at city council meetings – Clerk-treasurer pro tempore appointment when.
2.08.060 Ordinances to be considered – Procedure.
2.08.070 Supervisory authority – Rule and regulation issuance powers.
2.08.080 Annual statement of condition required – Contents.
2.08.090 Grievance hearing and investigation authority.
2.08.100 Investigation and examination power – Employment of consultants or counsel permitted when.
2.08.110 Warrant and check countersigning required.
2.08.120 Budget duties – Statutory authority.
2.08.140 City engineer selection and appointment authority.
2.08.150 City attorney selection and appointment authority.
2.08.010 Designated executive officer – Responsibilities generally.
The mayor shall be the executive officer of the city, and shall be responsible for the proper execution of the policies set by the city council and the enforcement of all laws and ordinances. (Ord. 3594 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1199 § 1, 1956).
2.08.020 Appointment authority – Scope.
The mayor shall appoint, and at his or her pleasure may remove, all appointive officers of the city, subject to the provisions of any applicable law, rule or regulation pertaining to civil service, state law or ordinances of the city requiring the confirmation of the city council. Vacancies in offices other than that of mayor or city council member shall be filled by appointment of the mayor. However, a police judge or municipal judge who is appointed may be removed only upon conviction of misconduct or malfeasance in office or because of physical or mental disability rendering him or her incapable of performing the duties of his office. Consistent with the authority of the office of the mayor provided by RCW Title 35A, the mayor has authority to grant through appointment commissions delegating authority necessary to enforce any provision of the Mount Vernon Municipal Code as now or hereafter amended and such uncodified ordinances as the mayor deems appropriate. (Ord. 3889 § 3, 2024; Ord. 3594 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1721 § 1, 1974; Ord. 1199 § 2, 1956).
2.08.030 Oath, affidavit, certification and signing powers.
The mayor and the mayor pro tempore shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations, take affidavits and certify them. The mayor, or the mayor pro tempore when acting as mayor, shall sign all conveyances made by the city and all instruments which require the seal of the city. (Ord. 3594 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1199 § 3, 1956).
2.08.040 Mayor pro tempore – Election – Duties – Scope of powers.
The members of the city council, at their first regular meeting of the new council after each general municipal election, and thereafter whenever a vacancy occurs, shall elect from among their number a mayor pro tempore, who shall hold office at the pleasure of the council, and in case of the absence, death or disability of the mayor, shall perform the duties of mayor except that he or she shall not have the power to appoint or remove any officer or to veto any ordinance. The appointment of a council member as mayor pro tempore shall not in any way abridge his or her right to vote upon all questions coming before the council. (Ord. 3594 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1199 § 3, 1956).
2.08.050 Duty to preside at city council meetings – Clerk-treasurer pro tempore appointment when.
All meetings of the city council shall be presided over by the mayor or, in his or her absence, by the mayor pro tempore. If the clerk-treasurer or the clerk-treasurer’s designee is absent from a council meeting, the mayor or mayor pro tempore shall appoint one of the members of the council as clerk-treasurer pro tempore. (Ord. 3594 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1721 § 2, 1974; Ord. 1199 § 4, 1956).
2.08.060 Ordinances to be considered – Procedure.
Every ordinance which passes the council, in order to become valid, must be presented to the mayor; if he or she approves it he or she shall sign it, but if not, he or she shall return it with his or her written objections to be entered at large upon the journal and proceed to a reconsideration thereof. If upon reconsideration, five members of the council voting upon a call of yeas and nays favor its passage, the ordinance shall become valid notwithstanding the mayor’s veto. If the mayor fails for 10 days to either approve or veto an ordinance, it shall become valid without his or her approval. (Ord. 3594 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1199 § 5, 1956).
2.08.070 Supervisory authority – Rule and regulation issuance powers.
The mayor shall have general supervision over the several departments of the city government and over all its interests. Except as otherwise provided for by ordinance or state law, the administrative officers of the city shall be directly and exclusively responsible to the mayor, and to no other person or body, for the efficient and economical conduct of their respective departments and offices. The mayor is authorized to issue rules or administrative regulations not inconsistent with state law or ordinances of the city, and to revoke, suspend or amend any rule or regulation issued by any administrative officer responsible to him or her. The mayor shall also have the power to authorize or direct such administrative officers to appoint, discipline, suspend or remove subordinates serving under such officer, subject to existing civil service regulations and laws. (Ord. 3594 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1199 § 6, 1956).
2.08.080 Annual statement of condition required – Contents.
The mayor, upon the request of the city council, and in the absence of such request, once annually, shall submit to the city council a general statement of the condition of the various departments of the city, and recommend to the city council such measures as he or she may deem expedient for the public health or improvements, or the city, its finances or government. (Ord. 3594 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1199 § 7, 1956).
2.08.090 Grievance hearing and investigation authority.
Except as otherwise provided for by ordinance or state law or agreement, the mayor shall hear such grievances as may be made against the city administration or any department thereof, investigate the same, and take administrative action as he or she deems warranted under all of the circumstances. Where such grievances demand the formulation or modification of city policy, or the enactment of ordinances by the city council, he or she shall refer the same to the city council with his or her recommendations. (Ord. 3594 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1199 § 8, 1956).
2.08.100 Investigation and examination power – Employment of consultants or counsel permitted when.
The mayor shall have the power to investigate and to examine or inquire into the affairs or operation of any department, division, bureau or office of the city; and when so authorized by the council, he or she shall have power to employ consultants and professional counsel to aid in such investigations, examinations or inquiries if money has been budgeted therefor in the year in which they are employed or if an emergency ordinance has appropriated the necessary funds for such personnel. (Ord. 3594 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1199 § 9, 1956).
2.08.110 Warrant and check countersigning required.
The mayor shall countersign all warrants or checks drawn upon the city treasury issued by the city. (Ord. 3594 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1199 § 10, 1956).
2.08.120 Budget duties – Statutory authority.
RCW 35A.33.010 through 35A.33.160 are adopted by reference. (Ord. 3594 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1721 § 3, 1974; Ord. 1199 § 11, 1956).
2.08.130 Committee and board chairman duties.
Repealed by Ord. 3594. (Ord. 1199 § 12, 1956).
2.08.140 City engineer selection and appointment authority.
The mayor shall be and is authorized to hire a full-time city engineer and all necessary administrative assistants and/or staff, such as may be necessary to the satisfactory fulfillment of all community engineering needs. The selection of the city engineer and the appointment thereof shall be subject to the confirmation of the city council by majority vote. (Ord. 3594 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1706 § 1, 1974).
2.08.150 City attorney selection and appointment authority.
The mayor shall be and is authorized to hire a full time city attorney and all necessary administrative assistants and/or staff, such as may be necessary to the satisfactory fulfillment of all community legal duties heretofore established by Chapter 2.24 MVMC. The selection of the city attorney and the appointment thereof shall be subject to the confirmation of the city council by majority vote. (Ord. 3594 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1706 § 2, 1974).
2.08.160 Keeping of certain documents and archives authorized.
Repealed by Ord. 3594. (Ord. 1706 § 3, 1974).