17-56. 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 on (1) the second Tuesday in May occurring not less than 75 days next following the adoption of one of the optional plans in municipalities adopting a charter providing for the holding of regular municipal elections at which all members of the council are to be elected at large; (2) the second Tuesday in May occurring not less than 120 days following the adoption of one of the optional plans in municipalities adopting a charter providing for the holding of regular municipal elections and for the division of the municipality into wards; (3) at the next general election occurring not less than 75 days next following the adoption of one of the optional plans in municipalities adopting a charter providing for the holding of general elections at which all members of the council are to be elected at large; or (4) at the next general election occurring not less than 120 days next following the adoption of one of the optional plans in municipalities adopting a charter providing for the holding of general elections and for the division of the municipality into wards.

Whenever a municipality has adopted a charter referred to in subsection (3) above, within 10 days, or subsection (4) within 40 days, prior to the last day fixed for the filing of nominating petitions for the primary election for the general election, the candidates to be first elected shall be nominated in the manner provided by chapter 27 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes with respect to the filling of certain vacancies in nominations for county or municipal offices to be filled at the general election.

(c) An optional plan shall take effect, in accordance with the further provisions of this article at (1) 12 o’clock noon on July 1 next following the first election of officers in municipalities adopting a charter providing for the holding of regular municipal elections, or (2) 12 o’clock noon on January 1 next following the first election of officers in municipalities adopting a charter providing for the holding of general elections.

L.1950,c.210,s.17-56; amended 1953, c.254, s.15; 1973, c.234, s.6; 1981, c.465, s.37; 2005, c.136, s.65.