§ 3-14-17 — Commission-manager; referendum; subjects petition;

election; effect; repeal of emergency measure. A. If within thirty days following the adoption of an ordinance or resolution, a petition, signed by the qualified electors in a number more than twenty percent of the average number of voters who voted at the previous four regular municipal elections or more than twenty percent of the number of voters who voted at the previous regular municipal election, whichever is the greater, is presented to the commission asking that the ordinance or resolution in question be submitted to a special election for its adoption or rejection, the ordinance or resolution shall become ineffective upon verification of the petition and the commission shall within ten days of verification adopt a resolution calling for the holding of a special election on the measure within ninety days of the verification of the petition. B. The ballot shall contain the text of the ordinance or resolution in question. Below the text shall be the phrases: "For the above measure", and "Against the above measure", followed by spaces for marking the ballot with a cross or check or other mark necessary for proper counting of the ballot, in order to cast a vote for the phrase desired. If a majority of the votes cast favor the measure, it shall take effect immediately. If a majority of the votes cast are against the measure, it shall not take effect. C. If an ordinance or resolution is an emergency measure, it shall go into effect immediately, but it may be repealed by an adverse majority at a referendum election.

Legislative History

1953 Comp., § 14-13-17, enacted by Laws 1965, ch. 300; 1985, ch. 208, §