NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1967 SESSION

CHAPTER 404

SENATE BILL 338

AN ACT TO AMEND CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HICKORY AS CONTAINED IN CHAPTER 323, SESSION LAWS OF 1961.

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

Section 1. Chapter 323, Session Laws of 1961, is hereby amended as follows: Section 2.01 is hereby amended by striking in line four thereof the words "by wards, and, except" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "at large. The candidate from each ward receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected. Except".

Sec. 2. Chapter 323, Session Laws of 1961, is hereby amended as follows:

(a)       Section 2.01(b) is hereby rewritten to read as follows: "A general municipal election shall be held on the first Monday in June of 1967, and on the first Monday in June of 1968. In 1970, and biennially thereafter, the general municipal election shall be held on the first Monday in June."

(b)       Section 2.01(c) is hereby amended by striking in the third line thereof the words "two years, but" and inserting "four years, except for member's interim terms of three years for the next election of aldermen of the fourth, fifth, and sixth wards. This Section shall apply to elections coming in 1967. Members".

(c)       Section 2.31(c) is hereby amended by striking therefrom the last sentence which provides "Their compensation in no event shall exceed that allowed by law for registrars and judges holding elections for the members of the General Assembly."

(d)       Section 2.32(c) is hereby striken and the following language is inserted in lieu thereof: "The registration books shall be opened for the registration of voters at 9:00 o'clock A. M. on the fourth Saturday before the general municipal election."

(e)       Strike subsection (b) of Section 2.51 and insert the following: "The aldermen to be elected in the year 1967 shall be nominated from Wards 4, 5, and 6 and initially shall hold office for a period of three years; thereafter they shall be nominated and elected to hold office for a period of four years. The aldermen to be elected in the year 1968, and every four years thereafter, shall be nominated from Wards 1, 2, and 3. The Mayor shall be elected for a term of three years at the election to be held in 1967, and thereafter shall be elected for a term of four years."

(f)        Section 2.53 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: "(k)  Same-Filing Fee. Each candidate for City office at the time of presenting his petition for nomination shall pay to the City Clerk a filing fee of the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), which fee shall be repaid to the candidate upon his withdrawal of candidacy as provided in subsection (h)."

(g)       Section 3.02 is amended by striking the same and inserting in lieu thereof "Compensation of Council Members. The Mayor and each member of the Council shall receive an annual salary of twelve hundred dollars ($1200.00) payable monthly."

(h)       Section 5.21 (a) is amended by adding prior to the colon in line 3, the words "and upon presentation to the City Council of his intention at least two days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting".

(i)        Amend Chapter VII, relating to "Municipal Court", by deleting the entire Chapter.

Sec. 3. All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 4. Section 1 of this Act shall be effective January 1, 1970, and all other Sections of this Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 12th day of May, 1967.