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The marshal who is the chief of police in such municipalities shall be elected at large, provided that, notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, a majority of the qualified electors voting therein may, at a special election called by the board of aldermen for that purpose, authorize the mayor to thereafter appoint a marshal with the approval of the board of aldermen.  Such special election shall be called only upon the presentation of a petition, directed to the board of aldermen and signed by at least twenty-five percent of the qualified electors of the municipality.  Once such an election has been called and held, no further or other election on the same question shall be held for at least four years.

If the people of any municipality vote to authorize the mayor to appoint the marshal, the first such appointment shall be made at the end of the term of the marshal in office at the time the election was held unless at that time the office of marshal is vacant or the incumbent is an appointed official.

Upon the expiration of at least four years after the effective date of any such determination that the marshal shall be an appointed rather than an elected official the people of any such municipality may determine that said official shall be elective, but only in the same manner and through the same petition and election procedure as hereinabove set forth.

Added by Acts 1970, No. 647, §1.