§ 14-61-114 - Options may also be referred by vote, ordinance -- Mayor's veto power. - Arkansas Statutes

14-61-114. Options may also be referred by vote, ordinance -- Mayor's veto power.

(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision, the board of directors in a city operating under the city manager form of government may by a two-thirds vote of all the members, including the mayor, refer to a special or general election, for approval by a majority of the qualified electors voting on the issue, one (1) of the options set forth in 14-61-107, provided no election on a board-referred option has been held within the previous two (2) years.

(2) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this subsection and 14-43-201 and 14-61-117, in a city operating under the management form of government where a federal court has ordered the redistricting of wards under the federal Voting Rights Act, the voters of the city are authorized to petition for a special election to vote on the options set forth in 14-61-107 for reorganizing the selection of directors, including the election of a mayor at large, at any time. The option shall be voted on at special elections called as a result of a petition for the special election's being filed with the city clerk and provided to the mayor under 14-61-113.

(b) The board of directors in a city with the management form of government where all directors are elected from wards and the directly elected mayor does not have the veto power may by ordinance referred to the electors and approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting on the issue grant the mayor the veto power, provided that no election on such an ordinance will occur sooner than two (2) years after the last special election on the issue of veto power for the mayor.

(c) The board of directors in a city with the management form of government where all directors are elected from wards and the directly elected mayor has the veto power may by ordinance referred to the electors and approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting on the issue remove the mayor's veto power, provided that no election on such an ordinance will occur sooner than two (2) years after the last special election on the issue of veto power for the mayor.

(d) (1) The board of directors of any city operating under the management form of government may by ordinance refer to the electors the issue of electing the mayor from an at-large board position or the issue of granting veto power to the mayor, or both.

(2) (A) In any instance where the mayor of a city operating under the management form of government has a veto power, the board of directors may override the veto by a two-thirds vote of the number of members of the board.

(B) Mayors who have the veto power shall not be entitled to vote unless the vote is necessary for passage of a measure.

(e) (1) The board of directors by ordinance may provide that the duties of the city manager under 14-47-120 or other statute be performed at the direction of the mayor.

(2) An ordinance under subdivision (e)(1) of this section shall not be amended for four (4) years following passage of the ordinance by the board of directors unless by an ordinance approved by a two-thirds vote of the board of directors.

(3) If an ordinance under subdivision (e)(1) of this section is passed, the mayor shall be compensated with a salary and benefit package comparable to the highest-ranking municipal official.