A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT AMENDing THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF ROWLAND TO make technical corrections and to ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO FILL VACANCIES on the town board of commissioners.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  Section 3.4 of the Charter of the Town of Rowland, being S.L. 1998‑105, as amended by S.L. 2000‑45, reads as rewritten:
"Section 3.4.  Vacancies.  If there is a vacancy in the office of Mayor or Commissioner after qualification or because of a refusal to qualify, the Board shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 160A‑63."
SECTION 1.(b)  Section 3.5 of the Charter of the Town of Rowland, being S.L. 1998‑105, as amended by S.L. 2000‑45, reads as rewritten:
"Section 3.5.  Referenda.  Referenda may be held only as provided by general law or applicable local acts of the General Assembly."
SECTION 2.(a)  Section 2.2 of the Charter of the Town of Rowland, being S.L. 1998‑105, as amended by S.L. 2000‑45, reads as rewritten:
"Section 2.2.  Composition; Terms of Office.  The Board shall be composed of four Commissioners to be elected by all the qualified voters of the Town voting at large for terms of four years, or until their successors are elected and qualified, and the Mayor."
SECTION 2.(b)  Section 2.4 of the Charter of the Town of Rowland, being S.L. 1998‑105, as amended by S.L. 2000‑45, reads as rewritten:
"Section 2.4.  Qualifications for Office; Compensation; Vacancies.  The qualifications and compensation of the Mayor and Commissioners shall be in accordance with general law. In addition, no Mayor or Commissioner shall be qualified to hold office if that person: (i) is more than 30 days delinquent in the payment of any sum of money owed by that person to the Town of Rowland, (ii) has been convicted of any felony by any court of competent jurisdiction, (iii) has failed to attend more than three meetings of the Board of which that person has had proper notice. If the Board determines that one of the above‑listed qualifications has been violated by a Commissioner or the Mayor and that such violation was within the control of the violator or that the violation can reasonably be expected to continue for an additional three months, the Board shall declare the position of the violator vacant and shall proceed to fill the vacancy. Vacancies shall be filled as provided below."
SECTION 2.(c)  Section 4.2 of the Charter of the Town of Rowland, being S.L. 1998‑105, as amended by S.L. 2000‑45, reads as rewritten:
"Section 4.2.  Town Clerk.  The Board shall appoint a Town Clerk to keep a journal of the proceedings of the Board, to maintain official records and documents, to give notice of meetings, and to perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law or assigned by the Board."
SECTION 2.(d)  Section 4.3 of the Charter of the Town of Rowland, being S.L. 1998‑105, as amended by S.L. 2000‑45, reads as rewritten:
"Section 4.3.  Finance Officer.  The Board shall appoint a Finance Officer to perform the duties designated in G.S. 159‑25 and such other duties as may be prescribed by law or assigned by the Board, subject to general law."
SECTION 2.(e)  Section 4.4 of the Charter of the Town of Rowland, being S.L. 1998‑105, as amended by S.L. 2000‑45, reads as rewritten:
"Section 4.4.  Tax Collector.  The Board shall appoint a Tax Collector pursuant to G.S. 105‑349 to collect all taxes owed to the Town and to perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law or assigned by the Board, subject to general law."
SECTION 2.(f)  Section 4.8 of the Charter of the Town of Rowland, being S.L. 1998‑105, as amended by S.L. 2000‑45, reads as rewritten:
"Section 4.8.  Bond of Officers.  The Finance Officer, Tax Collector, and all other employees of the Town whose duties require them to handle any funds of the Town, and such other officers and employees of the Town as the Board may by resolution determine, shall give bonds for the faithful performance of their duties. The Board shall require by resolution the giving and maintenance of all such bonds in amounts adequate to protect the Town from loss. The premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the Town."
SECTION 2.(g)  Section 5.2 of the Charter of the Town of Rowland, being S.L. 1998‑105, as amended by S.L. 2000‑45, reads as rewritten:
"Section 5.2.  Conflicts of Interest.  Any officer, employee, Commissioner or Mayor who has a financial interest, direct or indirect, in any proposed contract with the Town or in a proposed sale of any land, material, supplies, or services to the Town or to a contractor supplying the Town, shall make known that interest and shall refrain from voting upon or otherwise participating in the making of such a contract or sale. If the Board determines that any officer, employee, Commissioner, or Mayor has willfully violated the requirements of this section, that person shall be removed by the Board from his office or position. Violation of this section with knowledge, expressed or implied, by the person or corporation contracting with or making a sale to the Town shall render the contract void."
SECTION 3.  Section 1 of this act is effective when it becomes law and applies to vacancies existing on or after that date. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.