Section 44. Speaker

The  council  shall  elect  from among its members a
  speaker and such other officers as it  deems  appropriate.  The  speaker
  shall  preside  over the meetings of the council. During any period when
  the public advocate is acting as mayor, or when a vacancy exists in  the
  office  of the public advocate, the speaker shall act as public advocate
  pending the filling of the vacancy pursuant to subdivision c of  section
  twenty-four,  and  shall  be a member of every board of which the public
  advocate is a member by virtue of his or her office.