§ 6. Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem.

At its first meeting following a regular municipal election the Board of Commissioners shall choose one (1) of its members as Mayor Pro Tem. The Mayor shall preside at meetings of the Board of Commissioners and shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as are or may be conferred and imposed upon him by the general laws of North Carolina, by this Charter and the ordinances of the town. The Mayor shall have the power to veto any ordinance of any nature enacted by the Board of Commissioners. If the Mayor chooses to veto an ordinance, he must make his intention to do so known at the meeting at which such ordinance is enacted, and must, at the next regular or special meeting of the Board of Commissioners, present for inclusion in the record of proceedings of such meeting a written signed statement setting forth his reasons for exercising the veto. Any ordinance which has been vetoed by the Mayor may nevertheless be enacted by the Board of Commissioners at any regular or special meeting within ninety (90) days of the date of the exercise of the veto by a three-fourths (¾) majority vote. The Mayor shall be recognized as the head of the town government for all ceremonial purposes, by the courts for serving civil processes, and by the Governor for purposes of military law. In time of public danger or emergency the Mayor shall, if so authorized and directed by vote of the Board of Commissioners, take command of the police, maintain order and enforce the law. In case of the absence or disability of the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tem shall act as Mayor during the continuance of the absence or disability.

(S.L. 1963, ch. 67, § 6)