Upper Hunter Shire Council's elected officials will vote in a new mayor at an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday.
The vacancy arose when Wayne Bedggood resigned as mayor last week, after almost eight years on the council.
The council's general manager Steve McDonald said the Local Government Act required that councillors elect a mayor within 14 days of a vacancy in the mayoral office.
At the meeting, councillors will also decide whether to apply to the Minister for Local Government to hold a byelection for the vacancy on the council.
They may decide to maintain the vacancy until the next council election in September next year.
"As this is less than 18 months away, a byelection is not obligatory but could still occur," Mr McDonald said.
Factors in the decision about a byelection include the "considerable costs involved" in running a poll, along with "the impact on decision making and community representation of having one less councillor".
The meeting can be viewed online on Tuesday.
"Everyone is welcome to watch it live on council's YouTube channel or watch the recording any time in the next month, until it is replaced with the formal minutes," Mr McDonald said.
Deputy Mayor Maurice Collison is acting mayor at the moment.
A new deputy mayor will also be elected on Tuesday, if needed.
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