§ 58-05-02 — Officers of a township - Terms of office

The elected officers of a civil township must be:
1. Three or five supervisors.
2. One township clerk.
3. One assessor except as herein provided.
4. One treasurer.
In townships with three-member boards of township supervisors, one supervisor must be
elected at each annual township meeting and shall hold office for a term of three years. In
townships with five-member boards of supervisors, the number of members of the board of
supervisors whose terms have expired must be elected at each annual township meeting and
shall hold office for a term of three years. The other elective officers must be elected every two
years and shall hold their respective offices for a term of two years. Each officer shall serve until
that officer's successor is elected and qualified. The same person may hold the offices of
township clerk and treasurer if a majority of the electors present vote in favor of the merging of
such offices at the annual township meeting. The person elected to fill the merged office shall
perform all of the duties required of both the township clerk and treasurer except as otherwise
specifically provided by law. If a majority of the electors present and voting at an annual
township meeting vote in favor of making the office of assessor appointive, the board of
township supervisors shall appoint a township assessor for a four-year term of office, the first
term commencing on January 1, 1974. In lieu of electing or appointing a township assessor, the
board of township supervisors, if authorized by a majority of the electors present and voting at
an annual township meeting, may on behalf of the township contract with the county in which
the township is located or with any other political subdivision or with any individual to perform
the duties of and have the powers of the township assessor. The length and terms of such a
contract must be negotiated by the board of township supervisors with the governing body of the
county or other political subdivision or with the individual, as the case may be, and the township
is hereby authorized to make such payments as may be provided for in the contract. The
electors of any township in which the office of township assessor was abolished prior to July 1,
1973, shall, at the next annual township meeting, elect a township assessor or authorize the
board of township supervisors to appoint a township assessor or to contract for the making of
the assessment as hereinbefore provided. The township electors may, by majority vote of those
present and voting at an annual township meeting, change the previously adopted method of
providing for the assessment to either of the other two methods authorized in this section, but
such change does not become effective until expiration of the term of office of the assessor or
until a vacancy occurs in the office of assessor or until expiration of the contract for making the
assessments, whichever is applicable according to the method of providing for the assessment
that was previously adopted.