NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1959 SESSION

CHAPTER 832
HOUSE BILL 1035

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF MORGANTON, TO BE EFFECTIVE UPON A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

Section 1. Section 2 of Chapter 8 of the Private Laws of 1917, as the same amends Chapter 104 of the Private Laws of 1913 as amended, the Charter of the Town of Morganton, is hereby rewritten to read as follows:
"§ 2.(a)	There shall be held on the first Monday in April, 1961, and every two years thereafter, an election in the Town of Morganton for the selection of town aldermen and a mayor, whose terms of office shall begin on Monday next following the election and shall continue until their successors are elected and qualify. The election shall be held in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 104 of the Private Laws of 1913, as amended.
"(b)	At the election on the first Monday in April, 1961, four aldermen and a mayor shall be elected for terms as follows:
"(1)	The mayor shall be elected for a term of two years;
"(2)	The two candidates for alderman among the four elected who receive the first and second highest number of votes cast in the election shall be deemed to have been elected for terms of four years each;
"(3)	The two candidates for alderman who receive the third and fourth highest number of votes cast shall be deemed to have been elected for terms of two years each.
"Thereafter every two years, a successor to the mayor shall be elected for a term of two years, and successors to aldermen whose terms are expiring shall be elected for terms of four years each."
Sec. 2. All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.
Sec. 3. This Act shall become effective only upon ratification by the qualified voters of the Town of Morganton at the next general municipal election following passage of this Act by the North Carolina General Assembly. At such election the qualified voters who shall be in favor of the ratification of this Act shall vote a ballot on which is written or printed the words: "For staggered terms of office of four years each for aldermen."; and those who shall be opposed shall vote a ballot on which is written or printed the words: "Against staggered terms of office of four years each for aldermen." If a majority of those voting upon the issue shall be in favor thereof, then the mayor of the town shall certify the results of the election to the Secretary of State who shall cause to be properly noted in the official records of the State and in the Session Laws of 1961 that this Act has been ratified by the voters and is effective from the date of such ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 9th day of June, 1959.