Chapter 2.00
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL

Sections:

2.00.010    Mayor.

2.00.020    Town council.

2.00.030    Mayor pro tempore.

2.00.040    Mayoral succession in absence of mayor.

2.00.010 Mayor.

The mayor is the chief executive and administrative officer of the town in charge of carrying out the policies set by the town council and of seeing that local laws are enforced. Pursuant to state statute, the mayor has the following duties and responsibilities: preside over all meetings of the council at which (s)he is present and call special meetings of the council; prepare a proposed budget; sign all warrants drawn on the treasury; sign and enforce all written contracts entered into by the town; sign all conveyances made by the town and all instruments which require the seal of the town; appoint a clerk and a marshal; report to the council on the financial and other affairs and needs of the town; perform ceremonial duties as head of the town; and approve or disapprove all official bonds and contractor’s bonds. The mayor may appoint a town attorney, a public works director, a civil engineer, police and such other appointive subordinate officers and employees as may be provided for by ordinance; may administer oaths and affirmations, and take affidavits and certify them; and may acknowledge the execution of all instruments executed by the town which require acknowledgment; and exercise all other authorities and perform all other duties and functions for mayors as provided by state statute. (Ord. 530 § 1, 2010)

2.00.020 Town council.

The town council is the legislative authority of the town and has the power to enact laws and policies, consistent with state law, needed or desired to regulate local and municipal affairs within the jurisdiction of the town or its service areas. The council, comprised of five elected at-large council members, has the specific authority to: enact a town budget; define the powers, functions and duties of town officers and employees; fix the compensation of officers and employees; establish the working conditions of officers and employees; maintain retirement and pension systems; impose fines and penalties for the violation of city ordinances; enter into contracts; regulate the acquisition, sale, ownership and other disposition of real property; provide governmental, recreational, educational, cultural and social services; impose taxes and fees not otherwise prohibited by state law; cause the town to own and operate utilities; approve claims against the town; grant franchises for the use of public ways; and license, for the purpose of revenue and regulation, most any type of business. The council also is authorized to establish rules governing its own procedures, including for public meetings and hearings; and exercise all other authorities and perform all other duties and functions for councils as provided by state statute. (Ord. 530 § 1, 2010)

2.00.030 Mayor pro tempore.

A mayor pro tempore may be chosen by the council for a specified period of time, not to exceed six months, to act as the mayor in the absence of the mayor. The mayor pro tempore shall be appointed from the ranks of the town council members for six-month periods of service, on a continuous rotation by council position numbers from one to five. (Ord. 530 § 1, 2010)

2.00.040 Mayoral succession in absence of mayor.

In the event that both the elected mayor and the then-designated mayor pro tempore are out of town or otherwise unavailable to perform the duties and functions of mayor, or in the event of a catastrophic emergency in which the mayor and then-designated mayor pro tempore are unavailable, the office of mayor pro tempore shall be filled by the next available council member whose council position number would be the next following in the rotation for mayor pro tempore until all the council rotation has been exhausted.

In the event of a catastrophic emergency and no council members are available to serve as mayor pro tempore according to the priority established by council position rotation, then the duties of mayor shall be undertaken and performed by the board of county commissioners, or their designee from among the county commissioners.

In the event of a catastrophic emergency and no town council members or county commissioners are available, then the governor of the state of Washington shall serve as, or appoint, a mayor pro tempore, pursuant to statutory authority, until such time as a special election can be set to elect a new mayor and other town officers then needed. (Ord. 530 § 1, 2010)