Election of Mayor

(1) The Mayor shall be directly elected by the electorate from among persons who offer themselves as candidates for Mayor in a general election held to elect a new Council. (2) At the first meeting of the Council after every general election to constitute a new Council, the members of the Council shall elect a Deputy Mayor from among their number. (3) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of Mayor through death, resignation or otherwise, the Deputy Mayor shall, subject to sections 6, 7 and 9, act as Mayor for the remainder of the term of office of the Council. (4) During the illness or absence on leave of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor shall exercise and perform all powers and duties conferred upon the Mayor by this Act and Regulations made thereunder. (5) The Deputy Mayor may at any time during his term of office be removed from office at a meeting of the Council by a majority resolution of the members of the Council present and voting at that meeting, and a new Deputy Mayor may be elected for the unexpired term of office of the Council by the members of the Council from among their number. (6) Notice of a resolution under sub-section (5) shall be given to all the members of the Council not less than fourteen days before the meeting at which the resolution is proposed. (7) The Mayor shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and any Regulations made thereunder, be the chief executive officer of the Council and shall be responsible for providing effective leadership and direction for the Council, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall be responsible for14 (a) developing sister-city or sister-town relations with other cities or towns within and outside Belize; (b) supervising the town administrator and ensuring that the town administrator implements the decisions of the Council; (c) subject to section 11 (1), granting leave of absence to members of the Council; (d) subject to section 30A, assigning members of the Council, subject to his direction and control, with specific areas of responsibility in the management of the town’s affairs in such areas as environmental protection, revenue collection, town zoning, planning and urban infrastructure, town sanitation, public health and market management, tourist promotion and development, co-ordination of public utilities, crime and drug reduction and prevention, recreational planning and development, development of sports and culture, traffic control and management, and coordination of relations and activities between the town, the Government of Belize, non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations; (e) ensuring that Council meetings are open to the public, unless he directs otherwise; (f) submitting for the consideration of the residents of the town, through notices in a newspaper in general circulation in the town, or through publications on radio and on television and at meetings held pursuant to paragraph (g), at least once every three months during the term of office of the Council, 15 sufficiently detailed reports showing the developmental and other activities undertaken by the Council for the benefit of the residents of the town; (g) arranging, at least once every six months, during the term of office of the Council, meetings where the residents of the town may meet the members of the Council and may submit, orally or in writing, any subjects or areas they feel should be addressed by the in the administration and management of the town; (h) ensuring that the Council discharges the duties imposed upon it by or under this Act; (i) such other areas in the administration and management of the town as the Council may, by two-thirds majority resolution, decide to confer on him.