The schedule of installation of an optional plan adopted pursuant to this act shall, as provided herein, take the following course:

a. An election to submit the question of adoption of an optional plan may be held at any time in accordance with the provisions of article 1 of this act;

b. In the event of a favorable vote of the voters at the above election, the first election of officers under the adopted plan shall take place at the next general election occurring no less than 75 days next following the adoption of one of the optional plans in this act;

c. Except as otherwise provided in d. hereafter, the offices of the entire board of freeholders and all other offices established by any plan in this act which has been adopted by the registered voters of the county except sheriff, clerk, surrogate and register of deeds and mortgages shall be voted on at the first general election following adoption of such plan. In November of the first general election after the adoption of any plan provided in this act, the terms of all incumbent members of the board of freeholders shall be deemed terminated at noon on the first Monday following the election of the new board of freeholders. On that date the newly-elected freeholders shall take office and the new board shall organize itself in accordance with the plan adopted thereunder. All freeholders and other officers elected in the first general election following the adoption of any plan provided in this act shall take office at noon on the Monday next following their election, but their terms shall expire in accordance with the plan selected, as if they had taken office on January 1 in the year following their election. But nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent an incumbent freeholder from becoming a candidate for the new board, even if his present term on the board has not yet expired. In the event that the plan approved provides for concurrent terms, all freeholders shall be elected for concurrent 3-year terms. In the event that the approved plan provides for staggered terms, terms shall be as follows:

(1) If there be five members to be elected, all at large or all by district, two shall be elected for 3 years, two shall be elected for 2 years, and one for 1 year.

(2) If there be seven members to be elected, all at large or all by district, three shall be elected for 3 years, two for 2 years, and two for 1 year.

(3) If there be nine members to be elected, all at large or all by district, three shall be elected for 3 years, three for 2 years and three for 1 year.

(4) If there be five members to be elected, three by district and two at large, one at large member shall be elected for 3 years and one for 2 years, and one district member shall be elected for 3 years, one for 2 years and one for 1 year.

(5) If there be seven members to be elected, four by district and three at large, one at large member shall be elected for 3 years, one for 2 years and one for 1 year, and two district members shall be elected for 3 years, one for two years, and one for 1 year.

(6) If there be nine members to be elected, five by district and four at large, two at large members shall be elected for 3 years, one for 2 years and one for 1 year, and one district member shall be elected for 3 years, two for 2 years, and two for 1 year.

(7) The length of the terms specified in subparagraphs (1) through (6) shall be determined by drawing to be conducted by the county clerk within 60 days after the adoption of the optional plan.

In all elections, after the first election under this act, all members shall be elected for 3-year terms beginning on January 1 in the year following their election.

d. If the adopted plan shall provide for a new board of freeholders composed of the same number of freeholders as serve on the existing board with all members to be elected at large for non-concurrent terms, the initial elections to the new board of freeholders shall be held to fill only those freeholder offices for which the terms would have otherwise expired on January 1 next following the date of election but for the provisions of this act. The board members so elected shall serve for a term of 3 years expiring the following January 1 as provided in subsection c. hereof.

The terms of the incumbents of the existing board whose offices are filled at the initial election shall be deemed terminated at noon on the first Monday day following the election of the new member of the board. On that date, the newly elected freeholders shall take office and together with those freeholders whose terms have not expired, shall constitute the new board.

L.1972, c. 154, s. 124, eff. Sept. 19, 1972. Amended by L.1974, c. 141, s. 1, eff. Nov. 2, 1974.