SUBPART E. FUNCTIONS OF MAYOR AND
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
§404. Duties of mayor
A. The mayor shall have the following powers, duties, or responsibilities:
(1) To supervise and direct the administration and operation of all municipal
departments, offices, and agencies, other than a police department with an elected chief of
police, in conformity with ordinances adopted by the board of aldermen and with applicable
provisions of state law; however, no such ordinance may limit the authority granted to the
mayor by this Paragraph. All administrative staff shall be subordinate to the mayor.
(2) To delegate the performance of administrative duties to such municipal officers
or employees as he deems necessary and advisable.
(3) Subject to applicable state law, ordinances, and civil service rules and
regulations, to appoint and remove municipal employees, other than the employees of a
police department with an elected chief of police. However, appointment or removal of a
nonelected chief of police, the municipal clerk, the municipal attorney, or any department
head shall be subject to approval by the board of aldermen, except that in the case of a tie
vote, the recommendation of the mayor shall prevail. Furthermore, selection or removal of
any person engaged by a municipality to conduct an examination, review, compilation, or
audit of its books and accounts pursuant to R.S. 24:513 shall be subject to approval by the
board of aldermen of that municipality.
(4) To sign all contracts on behalf of the municipality.
(5) To prepare and submit an annual operations budget and a capital improvements
budget for the municipality to the board of aldermen in accordance with the provisions of
R.S. 39:1301 et seq. and any other supplementary laws or ordinances.
(6) To represent the municipality on all occasions required by state law or municipal
ordinance.
(7) To be the keeper of the municipal seal and affix it as required by law.
(8) To sign warrants drawn on the treasury for money, to require that the municipal
clerk attest to such warrants, to affix the municipal seal thereto, and to keep an accurate and
complete record of all such warrants.
(9) To have any other power or perform any other duty as may be necessary or proper
for the administration of municipal affairs not denied by law.
B. The provisions of this Section shall not be construed to alter, affect, or amend any
powers, duties, and functions of any elected chief of police as set forth in R.S. 33:423, R.S.
33:423.2, and R.S. 33:423.3.
Amended by Acts 1970, No. 119, §1; Acts 1985, No. 890, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986; Acts
1988, No. 125, §1, eff. June 29, 1988; Acts 1997, No. 836, §1, eff. July 10, 1997; Acts 2010,
No. 38, §1; Acts 2025, No. 452, §1.
NOTE: See Acts 1985, No. 890, §3.