A member of the Council shall have been continuously a resident of the Municipality, or in territory subsequently annexed thereto, or in the Municipality and annexed territory in any combination, continuously for at least two (2) years immediately prior to the date of his or her election or appointment, and a qualified elector at the time of the filing of the election petition, and each such member shall continue to be qualified as an elector therein throughout his or her term of office. (Amended 11-5-02; 11-6-12)
Council shall be the sole and final judge of the election and qualifications of its members.
The establishment of a two-year residency requirement in this Section and in Sections 7.02, 7.03 and 7.04 is to recognize that the electors in the Municipality of Waterville have a substantial and compelling interest in encouraging qualified candidates for the Council, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and Civil Service Commission. The two-year residency requirement ensures that such candidates have every opportunity to become knowledgeable with and concerned about the problems, needs, and unique characteristics of the community, and it also ensures that the community will have an opportunity to become familiar with the people who become candidates. In enacting this requirement, the electors find that the two-year period is reasonably related to these purposes. (Amended 11-2-71; 5-3-88; 11-6-12)