Washington residents get their say next week on whether the mayor and City Council members should serve four-year, staggered terms instead of the two-year terms they now serve.

At 6 p.m. Monday, the council is scheduled to receive public input on the proposal. That input could help determine if the council moves forward with a formal process to change the city’s charter to allow the four-year terms. Currently, the mayor and council members serve concurrent two-year terms, which means it’s possible for the mayor and entire council to voted out of office in one election.

Should the switch to four-year, staggered terms be made, there are several ways to accomplish the change, according to Franz Holscher, the city’s attorney.

In the next election, voters could elect three council members and the mayor to four-year terms and two council members to two-year terms. Two years later, the seats held by the two council members serving two-year terms would be contested, with the candidates winning those two seats serving four-year terms. That would set up the staggered, four-year terms.

Another option has voters electing two council members and the mayor to four-year terms and three council members to two-year terms in the next election. Two years later, the seats held by the three council members serving two-year terms would be contested, with the candidates winning those three seats serving four-year terms, thereby setting up the staggered, four-year terms.

A third option has voters electing three council members to four-year terms and the mayor and two council members to two-year terms in the next election. Two years later, the seats held by the mayor and two council members serving two-year terms would be contested, with the winning candidates serving four-year terms, which would establish the staggered, four-year terms.

Yet another option has voters, in the next election, electing two council members to four-year terms and the mayor and three council members to two-year terms. Two years later, the seats held by the mayor and council members serving two-year terms would be contested, with the winning candidates serving four-year terms, thereby implementing the staggered, four-year terms.

During the council’s Feb. 9 meeting, Holscher explained the options the city has when it comes to changing the terms. Holscher said no matter which option is chosen, the city’s charter would have to be changed at least 90 days before the next municipal election, which is set for Nov. 3.

Holscher told the council the city’s charter could be changed by having the city’s representatives in the N.C. General Assembly introduce a local bill that would allow the four-year staggered terms. Such a bill is usually introduced during the Legislature’s short session, which would be conducted next year. Holscher also said such a bill usually must have unanimous support of local elected officials and be noncontroversial in nature.

Holscher also said the charter could be changed under the state’s charter-change statute, which allows four-year staggered terms.

A council that wishes to propose and adopt a charter amendment under the charter change statute must follow six discrete steps, which are set out in state law.

The council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building, 102 E. Second St. To view the council’s agenda for a specific meeting, visit the city’s web­site at www.washingtonnc.gov, click “Government” then “City Council” heading, then click “Meeting Agendas” on the menu to the right. Then click on the date for the appropriate agenda.