CHAPTER 105
FORMERLY
SENATE BILL NO. 69
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF DOVER REGARDING REMOVING REDUNDANT LANGUAGE AND IMPROVING READABILITY
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each house thereof concurring therein):
Section 1. Amend Sec. 5. - Council to be legislative body; size; districts; terms of mayor and councilmen; qualifications, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strikethrough as follows:
Sec. 5. - Council to be legislative body; size; districts; terms of mayor and councilmen; qualifications.
The council shall be the legislative body of the city and composed of nine (9) members nominated and elected as herein provided.
In order that the members of council shall be distributed over the city, the
The city shall be divided into four (4) election districts, the district boundaries of which shall be established by council so that the districts
they are nearly equal in population as shown by the most recent federal decennial census
based on the latest federal decennial census information. The district boundaries established for municipal elections shall be used for the next regular municipal election and shall continue in effect until the next succeeding federal decennial census is made available for use by municipalities in the State of Delaware, at which time council shall redistrict the city so that the districts shall be nearly equal in population in accordance with said census, which redistricting shall be used for the next regular municipal election, which procedure shall be followed by council after each succeeding federal decennial census in this manner so that the districts shall be maintained as nearly equal in population as possible at all times.
At the regular municipal election held in April of 2012, the mayor shall be elected at-large. The term of mayor elected at the April 2012 regular municipal election shall be for a period of three years, commencing on the second Monday in May following his/her election and continuing for a term of three years until the second Monday in May 2015, or until his/her successor has been duly elected and qualified.
Thereafter, commencing with the regular municipal election to be held in April of 2015, the term of mayor shall be for a period of four years commencing on the second Monday in May following his/her election and continuing for a term of four years until the second Monday in May, or until his/her successor has been duly elected and qualified.
At the regular municipal election held in April of 2012, four councilmen shall be elected by district voting from each of the districts of the city. The term of the councilmen elected at the April 2012 regular municipal election shall be for three years, commencing on the second Monday in May following their election and continuing for a term of three years until the second Monday in May 2015, or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
At the regular municipal election held in April of 2013, five councilmen shall be elected, four by district voting being from the districts and one at-large. The term of the councilmen elected at the April 2013 regular municipal election shall be for a period of four years, commencing on the second Monday in May following their election and continuing for a period of four years until the second Monday in May, or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
Thereafter, commencing with the regular municipal election to be held in April of 2013, the terms of the councilmen shall be for a period of four years, commencing on the second Monday in May following their election and continuing for a term of four years until the second Monday in May, or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. The mayor and at-large councilman shall be elected at alternating biennial regular municipal elections.
In order to be eligible to be elected as mayor or as a member of council, the person must as of the date of the election be:
(1) A citizen of the United States and of the State of Delaware;
(2) A resident of the city and having continuously resided therein or in an area annexed to the city during the two (2) years next
immediately preceding the day of the election;
(3) A resident of the election district from which they are seeking election, unless they are seeking election as an at-large councilman or mayor;
(4) Eighteen (18) years of age or older; and
(5) Nominated therefore, as hereinafter provided.
Holding Other Office. Except where authorized by law, no council members shall hold any other elected public office, city office, or city employment during the term for which the member was elected to the council. No council member shall hold any other city office or employment during the term for which the member was elected to the council. No former council members shall hold any compensated appointive office or employment with the city until one year after the expiration of the term for which the member was elected to the council, unless granted a waiver by the Board of Ethics (Ethics Commission).
Section 2. This Act shall be effective upon its enactment in accordance with law.
Approved July 15, 2013