§ 8. Election, oath, and vacancies.

(a)

There shall be one member of the city council elected for each ward. A candidate shall designate the ward for which such candidate offers for election. Members of the city council shall be elected by qualified electors of the ward for which they offer for election. The election of members of the city council shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the O.C.G.A., the "Georgia Election Code."

(b)

The first members of the reconstituted governing authority of the City of Riverdale from Wards 1 and 3 shall be elected in the November, 2017, general election. Such members shall take office on January 1 following their election and shall serve for terms of four years each and until their successors are elected and qualified.

(c)

The first members of the reconstituted governing authority of the City of Riverdale from Wards 2 and 4 shall be elected in the November, 2019, general election. Such members shall take office on January 1 following their election and shall serve for terms of four years each and until their successors are elected and qualified.

(d)

Successors to members elected under subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall be elected in the November general election next preceding the expiration of such terms of office and shall take office on January 1 following their election for terms of four years and until their successors are elected and qualified.

(e)

All elections shall be conducted on a district-wide basis and in order for a candidate to be eligible to qualify as a candidate, in addition to the other qualifications enumerated in this charter, he or she must reside in the ward for which he or she offers for election for at least 12 months prior to an election. In order to be elected, a candidate for mayor or councilmember must receive a majority of the votes cast for the position for which he or she is offering as a candidate.

(f)

In the event a councilmember moves his or her residence from the ward that he or she represents after taking office, the mayor and city council shall declare his or her office vacant and it shall be filled as any other vacancy in the city's government.

(g)

(1)

At the first regular meeting of the mayor and city council after each regular election of members of the mayor and city council, they shall meet in the city hall or other designated place in the city and then and there severally take, before some officer authorized under the laws of Georgia to administer oaths, the following oath of office, to wit: "I do solemnly swear that I will well and truly demean myself as mayor or councilmember, as the case may be, of the City of Riverdale for the ensuing term, and that I will faithfully enforce the charter and ordinances of said city to the best of my skill and ability, without fear or favor, so help me God."

(2)

Should the mayor or any councilmember be absent from said meeting, such person shall take the oath of office as soon as possible thereafter.

(h)

Said mayor and councilmembers shall provide, by ordinance, for regular monthly meetings and may hold such special or called meetings as the business of the city may require, which special or called meetings shall be called either by the mayor in his or her discretion or by at least three councilmembers in their discretion, to be convened as provided by the city ordinances. Notice of special or called meetings shall be served by the city clerk or his or her designee on all other members personally or by telephone at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. If the clerk or his or her designee is unable to reach a member, it shall be deemed sufficient notice under this section if telephonic communication is attempted via the member's telephone number designated for that purpose or by delivery of written notice at the member's home address, provided such attempt is made at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting and, if possible, a message is left for the member. Notice to councilmembers of special or called meetings shall not be required if the mayor and all councilmembers are present when the special meeting is convened. Notice of any special or called meeting may be waived by a member in writing either before or after such a meeting. Also, attendance at any special or called meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice concerning any business transacted in such member's presence. At special or called meetings, only the business stated in the call may be transacted.

(i)

In the event that the office of mayor or any one or more of the councilmembers shall become vacant by death, resignation, removal, or otherwise, said vacancy or vacancies may be filled by appointment and selection by the mayor and councilmembers in the case of vacancies in the city council, and by the councilmembers in the case of a vacancy in the office of mayor. Persons so selected shall be duly qualified to fill such vacancies for the unexpired term provided it does not exceed 12 months; otherwise, a special election shall be called.

(1963 Ga. Laws, page 2815; 1970 Ga. Laws, page 2611; 1974 Ga. Laws, page 3805; 1975 Ga. Laws, page 3306; 1979 Ga. Laws, page 4464; Ord. No. 97-06, § 1, 9-8-97; 2017 House Bill 548 , 5-3-17, § 3)