(a) In counties electing a county mayor as provided in § 5-6-102(1) and (2), there shall be a chair and chair pro tempore.

(b)

(1) The legislative body, at its first session on or after September 1 of each year, shall elect from its membership a chair and a chair pro tempore; provided, that the county legislative body may elect the county mayor to be its chair; provided further, that such election shall confer no additional powers or authority to the chair so elected other than as presiding officer that are not otherwise provided by law.

(2) If any county commission elects as its chair the county mayor, and such county mayor accepts the position of chair of the county commission, then the county mayor shall relinquish the county mayor's veto power, as provided in § 5-6-107, for so long as the county mayor remains chair of the county commission.

(3) In counties having a population of not less than eight thousand four hundred (8,400) nor more than eight thousand five hundred (8,500), according to the 1970 or any subsequent federal census, having a county administrator who was empowered by private act prior to September 1, 1978, to preside over the county legislative body, such county administrator shall continue to preside as chair, notwithstanding this chapter and chapter 6 of this title, nor shall the county administrator have the power of veto over legislation passed by the county legislative body, this chapter and chapters 1 and 6 of this title notwithstanding.

(4) This subsection (b) does not apply to:

(A) Counties with a population between two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) and three hundred thousand (300,000);

(B) Any county having a population of not less than two hundred seventy-six thousand (276,000) nor more than two hundred seventy-seven thousand (277,000), according to the 1970 federal census or any subsequent federal census; or

(C) Counties with a population in excess of six hundred thousand (600,000) by the 1970 federal census.

(c) The chair of the legislative body shall preside over the sessions of the legislative body.

(d) When the regular chair is unable or fails to attend the meetings of the legislative body, the regular chair shall notify the chair pro tempore, and the chair pro tempore shall attend, discharge the duties of the office, and be vested with all the powers of the regular chair while engaged therein.

(e) The compensation of the chair and chair pro tempore shall be fixed by the legislative body, but such compensation, if fixed on a per diem basis, shall not be less than the amount fixed for the members of the legislative body; provided further, that the compensation of the chair pro tempore shall not exceed the compensation allowed the chair for like services.

(f) In the absence of the chair and the regular chair pro tempore, the county legislative body may appoint, temporarily, a chair pro tempore to preside over the meeting who is vested with all the powers, for this purpose and for the time being, of the regular chair, or regular chair pro tempore.

(g) In the event the county mayor is absent or intends to be absent for more than twenty-one (21) days, or is incapacitated or otherwise unable to perform the duties of the county mayor's office, the county legislative body shall appoint the chair to serve until the absence or disability is removed. Any contest of disability or its removal shall be adjudicated in the chancery court of such county. While the chair is serving as county mayor, the chair pro tempore shall preside over sessions of the legislative body.

(h) The chair of the county legislative body may designate, from time to time, another member of the county legislative body to sit in the chair's place on any board, authority or commission that the chair serves upon by virtue of holding the office of chair of the county legislative body. Any such designee shall have such powers, including the power to vote, as are otherwise conferred upon the chair of the county legislative body when serving upon such board, authority or commission. At any such meeting attended by the chair of the county legislative body, only the chair of the county legislative body shall exercise voting power.

(i)

(1) If the office of the county mayor should become vacant pursuant to § 8-48-101, the chair, or if the county mayor served as the chair, the chair pro tempore shall serve as interim county mayor until the vacancy is filled pursuant to § 5-1-104. The interim county mayor shall have the same powers, duties and bond as provided by chapter 6 of this title.

(2) This subsection (i) shall not apply if the method of filling the vacancy in the office of the county mayor is established by a metropolitan charter or a private act.