Any proposed ordinance, which the Board may lawfully adopt, may be submitted to the Board by petition if the petition accompanying the proposed ordinance is signed by voters of the Town equal in number to at least thirty-five percent (35%) of the total number of registered voters residing within the Town at the time of the last regular municipal election and contains a request that such ordinance be submitted to a vote of the people if not passed by the Board. Upon receipt of a proposed ordinance and petition, the Board shall either: (i) within 20 days after the Town Clerk and the New Hanover County Board of Elections have certified the sufficiency of the accompanying petition, adopt the ordinance without alteration or (ii) within 20 days after the Town Clerk and the New Hanover County Board of Elections have certified the sufficiency of the petition, call an election to be held on a date authorized by G.S. 163-287(a). At such election the ordinance shall be submitted without alteration to the registered voters of the Town.
(S.L. 2024-14, ratified 6-27-24)