Council President., Chapter 3. Rules for the Common Council, Municipal Code, Code of Ordinances, West Allis

(1)

Selection And Duties. The Council, at its first meeting subsequent to the regular election and qualification of new members, shall, after organization, choose from its members a President who, in the absence of the Mayor, shall preside at meetings of the Council and, during the absence or inability of the Mayor, shall have the power and duties of the Mayor, except that he shall not have power to approve an act of the Council which the Mayor has disapproved by filing objections with the Clerk. He shall, when so officiating, be styled "Acting Mayor."

(2)

Successor In Office. In the event the President of the Common Council is unable to act or perform any of his duties because of illness, other disability or absence from the City, by a direct line of succession and in the order herein set forth, the persons elected or appointed to the following offices or positions shall act as President of the Common Council and have and exercise the powers and discharge all of the duties of the President of the Common Council, until such time as the President of the Common Council shall resume his duties and, while so acting as President of the Common Council, such person shall be styled as "Acting President of the Common Council"; provided, that if any person lower on the list of succession or order, as herein set forth, shall be exercising such powers and discharging such duties and a person higher on the list of succession or order shall become available to serve, such powers and duties are forthwith vested in the person higher on the list or order. "The direct line of succession and order shall be as follows:

	Chairpersons of the Administration & Finance Committee
	Chairpersons of the Board of Public Works
	Chairpersons of the Safety & Development Committee
	Chairpersons of the License & Health Committee
	Chairpersons of the Advisory Committee"

(3)

Vacancy. In the event of the death or resignation of the President of the Common Council, or his succession to the office of the Mayor in the case of a vacancy in the office of the Mayor, the Common Council shall, at the next meeting after the occurrence of such event, elect a successor to fill the office of President of the Common Council, who shall preside over their meetings for the remainder of the term of office to which members of the Common Council were elected.

(4)

Vacancy In The Office Of The Mayor. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Mayor, as set forth in sec. 17.03 of the Wisconsin Statutes, the President of the Common Council shall succeed to the office of the Mayor until a new Mayor is elected and qualified. A new Mayor shall be elected for the residue of the unexpired term on the first Tuesday of April next after the vacancy happens, in case it happens no later than December 1, preceding the first Tuesday in April; but, if the vacancy happens after December 1, preceding the first Tuesday in April, before such date, then the successor shall be elected on the first Tuesday in April of the next ensuing year, but no election to fill a vacancy in such office may be held at the time of holding the regular election for that office. The provisions of this subsection are subject to sec. 9.10 of the Wisconsin Statutes.

(5)

Selection of Council President. Following the election of a new Common Council and in the event of a vacancy in the office of Council President, the following procedure shall be used to select the Council President:

[Ord. O-2016-0026; 5/3/2016]

(a)

The Common Council shall meet as a Committee of the Whole to select the Council President.

(b)

The meeting shall be open.

(c)

The City Clerk or his/her designee shall chair the meeting but shall not vote and shall be governed by a majority vote of the Committee of the Whole on all procedural matters.

(d)

The City Clerk shall ask for nominations and after alderpersons cease putting forth nominations, shall ask one time if there are any other nominations. Alderpersons may then make any further nominations and upon no additional response, nominations shall be closed.

(e)

Balloting shall be open unless it is moved and seconded that balloting be by secret ballot pursuant to Section 19.88(1) of the Wisconsin Statutes and a majority vote to have secret balloting.

(f)

A majority of all members shall be required to elect the Council President. In case of a tie vote or where a member fails to attain a majority vote, voting shall continue until a member attains a majority.