Role, responsibilities of mayor

By Marsha Mitchell - Centerville Mayor

Under Iowa Code Section 372, a mayor has two official roles in city government: Presiding officer of the city council and chief executive officer of the city.

As chief executive officer, the mayor has to carefully balance policy making and administrative responsibilities. Policy making involves addressing the broader problems and issues facing the city, considering alternative actions, and making decisions on what should be done. Administration entails overseeing organizational operations, directing and managing specific activities, and carrying out organization policies.

In a mayor/city council form of government, which Centerville has, city councils can retain duties for themselves or they can delegate additional duties to the mayor.

The more common executive powers and duties of Iowa mayors are: Legislation, appointment of officials, supervision, removal of officials, law and ordinance enforcement, miscellaneous administrative responsibilities and informal duties and powers.

Concerning the legislation piece of a mayor’s duties, the mayor (in most cases) has the opportunity to sign, veto, or take no action on legislation adopted by the council. Once the mayor signs a resolution, it becomes effective immediately. Ordinances or amendments to ordinances become law after publication, unless a later date is specified in the measure itself.

The mayor can veto an ordinance, amendment or resolution. But if he/she does, state law requires the mayor to explain the reasons for the veto in a written message to the council at the time of the veto. The mayor may not exercise the veto power during the regular course of a council meeting. A city council may override the mayor’s veto by passing the same legislation again within 30 days after the mayor’s veto. To override a mayor’s veto, the legislation must be passed by a two-thirds vote of all the members of the council.

If for any reason, the mayor does not want to take a position on an ordinance, amendment or resolution, he or she may simply do nothing. The mayor is not required to approve or veto legislation. If the mayor takes no action within 14 days after passage of a resolution, it becomes effective at that time. An ordinance normally becomes law when published.

The mayor in Centerville has no vote on the city council. Even though the mayor has no vote, it is his/her responsibility to carry out the council’s wishes as determined by ordinances, resolutions, amendments and motions passed by that body. Since it is the mayor that initiates and enforces actions taken by the council, it often happens that the responsibility for and fallout, if any, from all decisions and law changes falls in the mayor’s lap. Part of the mayor’s responsibilities is to handle and explain those situations.

Mayoral appointments must be confirmed and approved by the city council. The mayor supervises, on a daily basis, all city officers and departments. The power to remove persons from appointive offices rests with the officer or body who made the appointment. In Centerville this is the mayor.

Law enforcement is the responsibility of the police department or other city agencies — not the job of the mayor. Mayors do have certain special powers during declared emergencies and a mayor may take command of the police and govern the city by proclamation if a state of emergency or public danger is determined.

Mayoral duties include a variety of less common administrative activities. For example, the mayor may have some election duties if he or she is required to call a special election. The city council may empower a mayor to issue and revoke various licenses. Often, licensing powers are given subject to an appeal hearing. The mayor can also make a written application to the governor for the appointment of a board of arbitration and conciliation in a private labor dispute.

Mayors are typically involved in numerous civic activities, such as speaking at public events or community groups, participating in community festivals and attending ribbon cutting ceremonies. These informal responsibilities can frequently be as time-consuming as administering city affairs.

Mayors are also expected to be an effective chair at council meetings by monitoring discussions, drawing in council members, pushing for motions and votes and making sure that all meetings are conducted with decorum and respect.

It is also incumbent on the mayor to provide a non-partisan, non-judgmental ear to all citizens and to be a positive role model when it comes to leadership, ethics and fairness.

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact city hall.

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