§ 16. Powers and duties of mayor.

Be it further enacted, that the mayor of said city shall be its chief executive officer, and shall have all powers and perform all the duties usually incident thereto; he shall have authority to call meetings of the city council whenever he may deem it necessary for the public interest, and shall preside at all meetings of said council at which he shall be present and when there shall be an equal division in the city council he shall give the casting vote. The mayor shall see that all ordinances, rules and regulations for the government of said city are faithfull executed; he shall lay before the city council from time to time such matters as he may deem the welfare of the city requires; he shall have the power to fine any members of said council not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) for improper or disorderly conduct at any meeting thereof; he shall have power to veto or disapprove any ordinance, rule or order adopted by said city council, whenever he may deem the same inconsistent with this act, or against the interest of the city, and in such case, such ordinance, rule or order shall not go into effect or be valid unless again adopted by two-thirds of said council, to be recorded on its minutes; he shall have power to punish by fine, not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00), or imprisonment not exceeding twenty-four (24) hours, any person or persons, for any improper conduct in presence of, or for any disturbance of said council; he shall have power whenever he thinks the public welfare requires, to temporarily increase the police force by appointing additional policemen, and he may suspend from duty any policeman whenever he thinks it necessary, reporting such appointments or suspension with his reason therefor to the city council as soon as practicable.

  Annotation —The mayor can vote but once, and only when there is a tie in the votes of the councilmen. Bousquet v. State, 78 M, 478.

 Unlike the mayor, the president pro tempore presiding at a council meeting, can vote only as a councilman, and has no right or authority to vote a second time to break a tie vote.