2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations › Article 3A. Government of Class IV Towns or Villages › §8-3A-2. Changing Class IV Town or Village Form of Government

(a) A Class IV town or village may change its form of government upon the submission of a petition containing the signatures of twenty-five percent of the qualified voters.
(b) After receipt and verification of the petition, the question shall be submitted to the voters of the Class IV town or village at the next general or primary election.
(c) A Class IV town or village shall select from the following government plans:
Plan I -- "Mayor-Council Plan". Under this plan:
(1) There shall be a town or village council, elected at large or by wards, or both at large and by wards, by the qualified voters of the town or village; a mayor elected by the qualified voters of the town or village; and such other elective officers as set by ordinance; and
(2) The mayor and council shall be the governing body and administrative authority.
Plan II -- "Strong-Mayor Plan". Under this plan:
(1) There shall be a mayor elected by the qualified voters of the town or village; and a town or village council elected at large or by wards, or both at large and by wards, by the qualified voters of the town or village;
(2) The council shall be the governing body;
(3) The mayor shall be the administrative authority; and
(4) Other officers and employees shall be appointed by the mayor or by his or her order in accordance with this chapter, but the appointments by the mayor or by his or her order may be made subject to the approval of the council.
Plan III -- "Manager Plan". Under this plan:
(1) There shall be a council of not less than five nor more than eleven members, elected either at large or from the geographical districts as may be established by ordinance, or partly at large and partly from the geographical districts, and the ordinance may empower the council to change the geographical districts without amending the ordinance: Provided, That the change of these districts may not take effect during the terms of office of the members of the council making the change;
(2) There shall be a mayor elected by the council from among its membership who shall serve as the presiding officer of the council; and a town or village manager who shall be appointed by the council;
(3) The council shall be the governing body; and
(4) The manager shall be the administrative authority and shall manage the affairs of the town or village under the supervision of the council and shall be responsible to the council. The manager shall appoint or employ, in accordance with this chapter, all subordinates and employees for whose duties or work the manager is responsible to the council.
Plan IV -- "Manager-Mayor Plan". Under this plan:
(1) There shall be a council of not less than five nor more than eleven members, elected either at large or from the geographical districts as may be established by ordinance, or partly at large and partly from the geographical districts, and the ordinance may empower the council to change these geographical districts without amending the ordinance: Provided, That the change of these geographical districts may not take effect during the terms of office of the members of the council making the change;
(2) There shall be a mayor elected at large by the qualified voters of the town or village as may be established by the ordinance, who shall serve as a member and the presiding officer of the council; and a town or village manager who shall be appointed by the council;
(3) The council shall be the governing body; and
(4) The manager shall be the administrative authority and shall manage the affairs of the town or village under the supervision of the council and shall be responsible to the council. The manager shall appoint or employ, in accordance with this chapter, all subordinates and employees for whose duties or work the manager is responsible to the council.