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HB 240

Currituck/New Hanover Beach Towns/Jacksonville Occupancy Tax.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Todd Carver

Creates a unified, modern council-manager charter for Davidson establishing a five-member board with a mayor, staggered four-year terms, and clarified governance, elections, and ad

Ratified
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 240

Overview

  • bill: HB 240
  • session: 2025
  • jurisdiction: North Carolina (Davidson, primarily)
  • short title: Davidson Charter Consolidation
  • sponsor: Representative Carver (Co-sponsor: Todd Carver)
  • purpose: Revise and consolidate the charter of the Town of Davidson, updating governance structure and aligning with general law

Main purpose and intent

  • To revise and consolidate the Town of Davidson’s charter into a single, coherent document.
  • To organize the town’s incorporation, boundaries, governing body, elections, and administration under a streamlined charter.
  • To establish a council-manager form of government and specify the roles, powers, and procedures of the Town’s elected officials and appointed officers.
  • To implement staggered terms for board members and define election timing to align with updated governance.

Key provisions and changes

  • Article I – Incorporation and Corporate Powers

    • Continues the Town of Davidson as a municipal body politic in Iredell and Mecklenburg Counties.
    • Grants and exercises broad powers, incorporating general state law, local acts, and this charter.
    • Powers may be exercised by ordinance, resolution, or other official acts as prescribed by law or charter.

  • Article II – Corporate Boundaries

    • Keeps existing boundaries as of the effective date, with official descriptions maintained via map or written description.
    • Changes to corporate limits require proper entries and filing with relevant offices, including the Secretary of State and county boards of elections.

  • Article III – Governing Body

    • Establishes a five-member Board of Commissioners plus a Mayor as the Town’s governing body.
    • Terms: Mayor elected for a two-year term; Board members elected for four-year terms with staggered terms.
    • Mayor responsibilities: presides over meetings, casts a vote only to break ties, signs official instruments, and serves as ceremonial head.
    • Mayor Pro Tempore: chosen at the first regular meeting after elections; may vote and is treated as a Board member.
    • Residency and compensation: officers must be qualified voters and residents; Board may set compensation.
    • Meetings: organizational meeting after elections; monthly regular meetings; open meetings; Board can adopt rules of procedure; minutes kept.

  • Article IV – Elections

    • Regular municipal elections: odd-numbered years, nonpartisan, plurality method.
    • Mayor elected every two years; Board elected to four-year staggered terms.
    • Special elections and referenda: as provided by general law or local acts.

  • Article V – Organization and Administration

    • Form of government: council-manager government under Part 2 of Article 7, Chapter 160A.
    • Town Manager: appointed by Board; acts as the chief administrative official; hires/fires staff (except Town Attorney).
    • Town Attorney: appointed by Board; serves at Board’s pleasure; provides legal counsel and represents the Town; Board may hire other attorneys as needed.
    • Town Clerk: appointed by Board; keeps minutes, notices meetings, custodianship of records and seal; performs duties per general law and Board direction.
    • Administrative appointments: Town Manager appoints department heads and may reorganize the Town’s governance, consistent with general law.

  • Section 2 ( staggered terms implementation)

    • 2025 regular municipal election: top two vote-getters receive four-year terms; the next three receive two-year terms to establish staggered terms.
    • 2027 and quadrennially thereafter: three members elected for four-year terms.
    • 2029 and quadrennially thereafter: two members elected for four-year terms.

Who or what would be affected

  • Town of Davidson governance structure and operations.
  • Elected officials: Mayor and five Board members (terms and staggering).
  • Town employees and department heads (via the Town Manager’s appointment authority).
  • Town Attorney and Town Clerk (roles codified; governance procedures clarified).
  • Municipal elections and related processes (nonpartisan, plurality, staggered terms).
  • Administrative processes: open meetings, minutes, records retention, and official acts.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: The act becomes law upon enactment; provisions apply going forward.
  • 2025 election cycle: implementation of term staggering begins with the regular municipal election.
  • Repeals and consolidations: repeals several older acts related to Davidson’s governance; preserves existing rights and obligations where not inconsistent.
  • Severability: standard severability clause; invalid provisions do not void the rest.
  • Transitional notes: existing ordinances remain in effect unless inconsistent with the new charter.

Practical impact

  • Provides a unified, modern charter for Davidson, aligning local governance with state law and best practices for a council-manager system.
  • Improves clarity on powers, boundaries, and governance procedures.
  • Establishes clear term lengths and election sequencing to ensure continuity on the Board.
  • Enhances organizational structure for administration and legal counsel.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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