If the mayor is absent or refuses or fails to sign any ordinance, resolution, contract, warrant, demand or other document or instrument requiring his signature for five days consecutively, then the vice mayor or, in his absence, a duly appointed acting mayor is authorized to sign such ordinance, resolution, contract, warrant, demand or other document or instrument which, when so signed, shall have the same force and effect as if signed by the mayor. [Code 2006 § 2-2-6].