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Section 2.10. Form of Government. The government of the City of Clarkesville shall be vested in a mayor and city council, said council to be composed of five councilmen, chosen as hereinafter provided.
Section 2.11. Terms and Qualifications of Office. The members of the council shall serve for terms of two years and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. The mayor shall serve for a term of two years and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. No person shall be eligible to serve as mayor or councilman unless he or she (1) has been a resident of the city for a period of one year immediately prior to the date of the election of mayor or councilmen; (2) continues to reside within the city during his or her period of service; (3) is registered and qualified to vote in municipal elections of the City of Clarkesville; and (4) meets the qualification standards for members of the Georgia House of Representatives as are now or may in the future be prescribed by the Georgia Constitution.
Section 2.12. Vacancy; Forfeiture of Office; Filling of Vacancies. (a) The office of mayor or councilman shall become vacant upon the incumbent's death, resignation, forfeiture of office or removal from office in any manner authorized by this Charter or the laws of the State of Georgia.
(b) The mayor or any councilman shall forfeit his office if he or she: (1) lacks at any time during the term of office any qualifications of the office as prescribed by this Charter or the laws of the State of Georgia; (2) willfully and knowingly violates any express prohibition of this Charter; or (3) is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.
(c) A vacancy in the office of mayor or councilman shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term, if any, as provided for in Article V.
Section 2.13. Compensation and Expenses. The mayor and councilmen shall receive as compensation for their services an amount prescribed by ordinance passed by the council in conformity with the laws of the State of Georgia. The mayor and councilmen shall be entitled to receive their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties of office.
Section 2.14. Prohibitions. (a) Except as authorized by law, no member of the council shall hold any other elective municipal office or municipal employment in the City of Clarkesville during the term for which he or she was elected.
(b) Neither the mayor nor any councilman shall vote upon any questions in which he or she is personally interested.
Section 2.15. Inquiries and Investigations. The council may make inquiries and investigations into affairs of the city and the conduct of any department, office or agency thereof and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and require the production of evidence. Any person who fails or refuses to obey a lawful order issued in the exercise of these powers by the council shall be punished as provided by ordinance.
Section 2.16. General Power and Authority of the Council. (a) Except as otherwise provided by law or by this Charter, the council shall be vested with all the powers of government of the City of Clarkesville provided in Article I.
(b) In addition to all other powers conferred on it by law, the council shall have the authority to adopt and provide for the execution of such ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this Charter, the Constitution and the laws of the State of Georgia, which it shall deem necessary, expedient or helpful for the peace, good order, protection of life and property, health and welfare, sanitation, comfort, convenience, prosperity or well-being of the inhabitants of the City of Clarkesville and may enforce such ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations by imposing penalties for violation thereof.
(c) The council may by ordinance create, change, alter, abolish, or consolidate offices, agencies and departments of the city and may assign additional functions to any of the offices, agencies and department expressly provided for by this Charter.
Section 2.17. Duties of Mayor. The mayor shall be the chief executive office of the City of Clarkesvillle. He shall possess all of the executive and administrative powers granted to the city under the Constitution and laws of the State of Georgia, and all the executive and administrative powers contained in this Charter. The mayor shall:
(a) preside at all meetings of the council;
(b) vote as a member of the council only at such times as are necessary to break a tie or deadlock of the council;
(c) be the official head of the city for the service of process and for ceremonial purposes;
(d) have power to administer oaths and to take affidavits;
(e) sign all written contracts entered into by the council on behalf of the city and all other contracts and instruments executed by the city which by law are required to be in writing;
(f) see that all laws and ordinances of the city are faithfully executed;
(g) perform other cuties as may be required by law, this Charter or ordinance.
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