§ 14-47-109 - Board of directors generally. - Arkansas Statutes

14-47-109. Board of directors generally.

(a) (1) The seven (7) directors elected by a city reorganized under this chapter shall be known and designated as the board of directors of that city.

(2) The board shall constitute the supreme legislative and executive body of the city and, subject to 14-47-120(10), shall be vested with all powers and authority which, immediately prior to the effective date of the reorganization, were vested under then-existing laws, ordinances, and resolutions in the mayor and council of that city and in its board of public affairs.

(3) Except where expressly permitted under this chapter, a board member may not serve the city in any other capacity.

(b) (1) For election purposes, the positions on the board shall be permanently designated as positions numbered respectively one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven.

(2) (A) Each candidate for election to membership on the board shall specify the position for which he is running.

(B) The electors shall vote separately on the candidates for each position, with the position sought by each candidate to be shown on the ballot.

(c) The candidate for any designated position on the board of directors who, in any general or special election, shall receive votes greater in number than those cast in favor of any other candidate for the position shall be deemed to be elected.

(d) (1) All regular and special elections of directors shall be nonpartisan, the ballots to show no party designation.

(2) In all regular and special elections, each candidate for the office of director shall be elected by the electors of the city at large.

(3) A director shall not be prohibited from holding successive terms of office.

(e) (1) Any director elected at a special election shall take office on the first Monday following the certification of his election as required in this chapter.

(2) A director elected at a regular election shall take office on January 1 next following his election.

(f) (1) At any regular or special election for the election of a director, any adult person who has resided within the municipality for at least thirty (30) days and is qualified to vote at an election of county or state officers shall be deemed a qualified elector.

(2) Any person more than twenty-one (21) years of age possessing these same qualifications also shall be eligible to run for the office of director.

(g) When a city is reorganized under this chapter, at the first meeting of its initial board, the seven (7) directors will be divided by lot into two (2) classes. The tenure of office of those in each class shall be as follows:

(1) Those in class number one, which shall contain three (3) members, shall serve until and including December 31 following the first regular election held after their term of office commences and until their successors have been elected and qualified. Thereafter, those in class number one shall serve four-year terms.

(2) Those in class number two, which shall contain four (4) members, shall serve until and including December 31 following the second regular election held after their term of office commences and until their successors have been elected and qualified. Thereafter, those in class number two shall serve four-year terms.