A vacancy in an elective office shall be filled by appointment by the Council, such appointee to hold office until the next General Municipal Election and until a successor is elected and installed. Should the Council fail to fill any such vacancy within forty (40) days after the same occurs, then it shall be filled by appointment by the Mayor. Such successor shall be elected for the unexpired term of his/her predecessor at the General Municipal Election next succeeding such appointment.

If the offices of a majority or more of the Council becomes vacant, the City Clerk shall call a Special Municipal Election to fill said vacancies, which election shall be held within sixty (60) days of the existence of said vacancies. Each candidate elected at such election shall hold office for the unexpired term of his/her predecessor. The candidate or candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be deemed to fill the longest unexpired term or terms. Said vacancies, whether occurring by recall, resignation, legal disability or physical disability, shall be filled by the persons holding the following offices and in the following order: Chairperson of the Planning Commission, Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Commission, Chairperson of the Library Board of Trustees. Such persons shall serve as interim elective officers until said vacancies are filled by election and the newly elected officers are installed. Said persons shall be sworn in by the City Clerk in the same manner and form as elected officers as soon as possible after the vacancy or vacancies occur and shall have all the rights, duties and obligations of an elected officer during said interim appointment.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Mayor, the remaining elective officers, including any interim elective officers appointed pursuant to this Section, shall elect one of their number to serve as Mayor during the period of said vacancy.