§ 14-61-117 - Implementation of change in form of government under this chapter. - Arkansas Statutes

14-61-117. Implementation of change in form of government under this chapter.

The following procedure will be used to implement this chapter by cities that have changed the manner by which directors and the mayor are selected:

(1) If an option is chosen in which the mayor is directly elected, the position of mayor shall be elected at the first general election after the organization or reorganization of the city under the management form of government. Because of this fact, at the first meeting of the board of directors after the special election results have been certified, the mayor shall prepare slips of paper for each member of the board of directors whose current terms expire soonest. One (1) of these slips of paper shall have the word "Mayor" imprinted on it and the rest of the slips shall be blank. Each member whose term will expire soonest after the reorganization will draw a slip of paper and the director drawing the slip of paper with the word "Mayor" imprinted on it will not draw again. The successor for this director will be the elected mayor.

(2) The mayor shall then prepare slips of paper for each member of the board of directors, except the one (1) that has drawn the mayor's slip, upon which will be imprinted the name of a director position, or ward position, as may be needed. These members of the board of directors shall draw one (1) slip of paper, and the words imprinted on the slip drawn by each member shall determine the position and method of selection for such member's successor.

(3) Upon the expiration of the current term of a member, his successor shall be elected in the manner designated under this section. For example, if a member draws "Director Ward 1", then that member's successor shall be selected from the area designated as Ward 1 by the county board of election commissioners.

(4) (A) (i) If an option is selected that decreases the existing size of the board of directors, including the position of mayor, then at the first meeting after the results of the election have been certified, the mayor shall prepare slips of paper for each member of the board of directors, upon which will be imprinted the designation of the director positions that will remain after the decrease, whether at-large or ward positions, or a directly elected mayor. The remaining slips of paper shall remain blank.

(ii) The members of the board of directors shall draw one (1) slip of paper, and the words imprinted on the slip drawn by each member shall determine the position for which that member's successor will be selected.

(iii) Directors drawing a blank slip of paper shall not be succeeded upon the expiration of their terms of office.

(B) (i) If an option is selected that increases the existing number of directors, including the position of mayor, and the next general municipal election is more than one (1) year away, then a special election to fill the new positions shall be held within a reasonable time. This special election shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of 14-47-106 and 14-47-110. Persons elected at this special election shall serve until the next general municipal election, at which time the positions shall again be on the ballot for a full four-year term.

(ii) If an option is selected that increases the existing number of directors, including the position of mayor, and the next general municipal election is less than one (1) year away, then the board of directors, by majority vote, may:

(a) Conduct a special election, in accordance with the provisions of 14-47-106 and 14-47-110, but declare that the initial term of office for these positions shall be from the date the results of the special election are certified until the end of the term for directors elected at the next general municipal election, and that thereafter persons elected to fill the positions will serve a term of four (4) years; or

(b) Choose to leave the positions vacant until the next general municipal election; or

(c) Fill the vacancies in accordance with 14-47-113, with the persons appointed to serve until the next general municipal election.

(C) If an option is approved pursuant to 14-61-107(2) that results in a change in the number of directors selected from wards, the board of directors, by majority vote, may determine how to select the positions as follows:

(i) The board may designate any or all of the positions to be selected at any special election called to implement the change, and at the succeeding two (2) general municipal elections, in order to fully implement the option adopted;

(ii) (a) In order to fully implement that option selected, the board may draw lots to determine which positions will be elected at any special election called to implement the change, and at the succeeding two (2) general municipal elections, in order to fully implement the option adopted. Each slip will be imprinted with the name of a ward position, an at-large position, or the mayor, as necessary, and the successor of the board member drawing a particular slip of paper will be elected from the position. For purposes of illustration, the director from Ward 1 will be elected at the general municipal election when the position of the director drawing the slip marked "Ward 1" is up for election. If the option selected increases the size of the board of directors, and if the board has not otherwise determined the positions to be selected, then the mayor and one (1) board member whose term expires at the general municipal election before or after the mayor's term expires will draw an extra slip for each necessary position. For example, if two (2) new positions are authorized and the mayor's term expires at the next general municipal election, then the mayor would draw one (1) extra slip and a board member whose term expires two (2) years after the mayor's term would draw one (1) extra slip.

(b) Once the board has determined how successors, or new members, or both, are to be selected, it may unanimously vote to fill all positions on the board, including the position of mayor, at a special election, or no later than the next general municipal election. If a decision is made to so expedite the election of the board, the board may designate which positions will initially be filled for two-year terms, with successors to be elected for four-year terms thereafter, which positions will be elected for four-year terms, with successors to be elected for four-year terms thereafter.