(a) The Mayor shall be chief conservator of the peace and safety of the City and, as such, is empowered to control and direct the police force, in case of riot, insurrection, or other emergency, when he or she may take command of the whole police force, including the chief executive thereof, and may, for the occasion, appoint and commission as many special police officers as he or she may deem necessary who shall have all the powers of regular members of the police force. Any emergency as provided for in this section shall not be construed to be the operation of the police force in its routine duty. The Mayor shall have the power to administer oath before the City Council and official oaths to the several officers of the City, when required by law.(b) The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the City Council and shall have a voice and vote in its proceedings. He or she shall be recognized as head of the municipal government for all ceremonial purposes and by the Governor for the purposes of military law. In the event of his or her inability to act, his or her absence or disability, the Council shall designate one of its members to act as Mayor during his or her absence or disability.24 Appendix V.S.A. § 1-409