Duties of Mayor of Albertville

What are the Duties of a Mayor?

As the head of the City, the Mayor speaks officially for both the government and the community as a whole. The Mayor is the presiding officer and a regular member of the City Council and has all the powers and duties for the office of Council member in addition to those of Mayor.

The Mayor is given a number of important responsibilities as the official head of the City:

1. The Mayor serves as the City’s representative before the Minnesota Legislature, Federal Agencies and other local governments.

2. The Mayor performs ceremonial duties on behalf of the community. The mayor usually greets important visitors, giver formal and informal speeches, and takes part in public events. Because local civic groups frequently ask the Mayor to speak, the Mayor must be prepared to explain and defend City problems and programs.

3. The third responsibility of the Mayor is to exert leadership in City affairs. Because the Mayor lacks significant individual authority, this responsibility frequently calls for tact rather than overt acts of direction or supervisory control.

4. The Mayor must sign ordinance, resolutions, minutes, contract authorized by the Council, and written orders for payment of claims, which have been audited and approved by the Council. These are ministerial duties, and the Mayor may not refuse to sign if the purpose, approval and form are legally correct and complete.

5. The power to appoint usually resides in the Council. The Mayor may not hire or fire City employees. The Mayor has no special supervisory duties over City departments apart from membership on the Council.

6. Another responsibility of the Mayor is to preside over the Council meetings. The Mayor recognizes speakers for debate and motions, and rules on questions of Council procedures. The Mayor can vote on all motions put before the Council, but does not have the right to “veto” Council actions. The right of the Mayor to make and second motions is implied from the Mayor’s privilege of voting and taking part in regular Council deliberations. The Mayor has an obligation to be impartial and objective in conducting the meeting. Mayors may also call special meetings of the Council. The Mayor serves and represents the City on various other Boards, Commission, Committees or Task Force.

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