8. The chairman is appointed by the Council, from among its members. The Council may order the vote for this appointment to be taken by secret ballot, and provide the terms and conditions thereof.
If, at the first meeting of the Council at which a vote is taken to appoint a chairman, no candidate receives the majority of votes provided for in section 53, the appointment is made by a majority of two-thirds of the votes at the next meeting.
If no candidate receives a majority of two-thirds of the votes at that meeting, the chairman may be appointed by the Government, which may appoint a person who is not a member of the Council.
The third paragraph does not prevent the Council from proceeding with the appointment, upon a majority of two-thirds of the votes, at a meeting held after that mentioned in the second paragraph, provided the Government has not done so in its place.
1969, c. 84, s. 8; 1982, c. 18, s. 3.