The Office of the Mayor

Last Updated: June 5, 2026

How the Mayor Is Elected

The Mayor is elected by Borough voters at large to a four-year term (Home Rule Charter, Article VII, § C-48). To hold the office, a person must be a U.S. citizen, a registered voter of the Borough, at least 18 years old, and a resident of Tyrone for at least six months before the election (§ C-46).

The Mayor Leads Council

Tyrone’s Charter gives the Mayor a role many towns do not: the Mayor is the President of Council and presides at every Council meeting, with the same right as other members to take part in debate and — as presiding officer — to cast the last vote (§ C-42). The Mayor is “recognized as head of Borough government.” If the Mayor is absent, the Vice President of Council steps in as Deputy Mayor (§ C-45).

What the Mayor Is Responsible For

Beyond presiding over Council, the Charter assigns the Mayor specific duties (§ C-53), including to:

• help preserve order in the Borough;
• enforce ordinances and regulations that are criminal, quasi-criminal, nuisance, or traffic in nature;
• sign contracts, obligations, and official documents on the Borough’s behalf, and serve as one of the authorized signers of Borough checking accounts;
• appoint volunteer advisory committees of interested citizens to advise the office (members serve without pay);
• administer oaths in Borough business; and
• report to Council from time to time on the state of the Borough.

The Mayor also makes appointments to Borough boards and commissions, subject to Council’s approval (§ C-43).

Emergency Powers

In a genuine emergency, the Mayor’s authority expands. The Mayor may appoint special police with full police powers for the duration of an emergency that endangers public safety (§ C-44), and if the Borough Manager is absent during an emergency, the Mayor may step in and carry out the Manager’s duties.

What the Mayor Does Not Do

This is the part that surprises people. In Tyrone’s Council–Manager system, the Mayor does not run the Borough’s day-to-day operations, hire and fire staff, or single-handedly set the budget. Those responsibilities belong to the Borough Manager, who answers to Council as a whole. The Mayor leads the elected body and represents the Borough — the Manager administers it. This separation is intentional: it keeps professional administration steady while keeping policy in the hands of officials you elect.

Contact the Mayor’s Office

In the Charter: Article VII, The Mayor (§ C-42 through C-54). See also Art. III, Borough Council and the full Home Rule Charter. Full code: ecode360.com/TY1357.