GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 1991

CHAPTER 878
SENATE BILL 968

AN ACT TO SET A REFERENDUM ON POSSIBLE CHANGES IN THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM FOR THE TOWN OF ORIENTAL.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  (a) Sections 3 and 7 of Chapter 184, Private Laws of 1899 are repealed.
(b)	The Town of Oriental is governed by a mayor and a board of commissioners of three members.  The mayor shall preside at all board of commissioners meetings, but shall have the right to vote only when there are equal numbers of votes in the affirmative and in the negative.
Sec. 2.  (a) Sections 3 and 7 of Chapter 184, Private Laws of 1899 are repealed.
(b)	The Town of Oriental is governed by a board of commissioners of six members, one of whom shall be the mayor.  The person who at the election receives the highest number of votes for commissioner shall be the mayor for the two-year term of the board, except if more than one person receives the highest number of votes, the board of commissioners shall choose the mayor by lot from amongst those receiving the highest number of votes.  If there is a vacancy as mayor, the board of commissioners shall choose one of its own members to be mayor for the remainder of the unexpired term.  The mayor has the right to vote on all matters before the board of commissioners, but may not break a tie vote in which he participated.
Sec. 3.  (a) Sections 3 and 7 of Chapter 184, Private Laws of 1899 are repealed.
(b)	The Town of Oriental is governed by a mayor and a board of commissioners of five members.  The mayor shall preside at all board of commissioners meetings, but shall have the right to vote only when there are equal numbers of votes in the affirmative and in the negative.
Sec. 4.  The Pamlico County Board of Elections shall hold a special election on November 3, 1992, at which time the qualified voters of the Town of Oriental shall vote on the following questions, with the first question being question "A", the second question being question "B", and the third question being question "C":
"[ ]	FOR election by the voters of the Town of Oriental of a three-member board of commissioners and a mayor, with the mayor voting only in the case of a tie.
[ ]	FOR election by the voters of the Town of Oriental of a six-member board of commissioners, with the candidate for commissioner who receives the highest number of votes being the mayor, who may vote on any issue.
[ ]	FOR election by the voters of the Town of Oriental of a five-member board of commissioners and a mayor, with the mayor voting only in the case of a tie."
If a plurality of the votes cast are in favor of question "A", then Section 1 of this act shall become effective beginning with the 1993 regular municipal election.  Otherwise, Section 1 of this act shall have no effect.
If a plurality of the votes cast are in favor of question "B", then Section 2 of this act shall become effective beginning with the 1993 regular municipal election.  Otherwise, Section 2 of this act shall have no effect.
If a plurality of the votes cast are in favor of question "C", then Section 3 of this act shall become effective beginning with the 1993 regular municipal election.  Otherwise, Section 3 of this act shall have no effect.
Sec. 5.  Section 4 of this act is effective upon ratification.  Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this act become effective as prescribed in Section 4 of this act.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 8th day of July, 1992.

James C. Gardner
President of the Senate

Daniel Blue, Jr.
Speaker of the House of Representatives