New York Consolidated Laws, Religious Corporations Law - RCO § 45. Changing date of annual election, number and terms of office of vestrymen and terms of office of churchwardens in Protestant Episcopal churches heretofore incorporated

If the vestry of a Protestant Episcopal parish, heretofore incorporated, shall by resolution, recommend that the date of the annual election be changed to another day, either a Sunday or a secular day, or that the number of vestrymen be changed to three, six, nine, twelve, fifteen, eighteen, twenty-one or twenty-four, and that the terms of office of the churchwardens be changed so that one warden shall be elected annually, notice of such recommendation shall be included in the notice of the next annual election of such parish, or in the notice of a special meeting to be held not less than six months before the time fixed for holding the next annual election thereafter, and be submitted to such annual or special meeting.  If such recommendation be ratified by such meeting, the presiding officer thereof and at least two qualified voters present thereat, shall execute and acknowledge a certificate setting forth such resolution of the vestry;  the fact that notice thereof had been given with the notice of the annual election, or with the notice of the special meeting, as the case may be;  that such meeting had ratified the same;  the date determined upon for the annual election of the parish;  the number of vestrymen so decided on;  and the fact that the meeting determined to thereafter elect churchwardens, so that the term of one warden shall expire annually.  Such certificate shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the county in which the original certificate of incorporation is filed and recorded.  If the meeting determine to change the date of the annual election, the next annual election shall be held on the day determined on at such meeting, and the terms of the vestrymen and churchwardens which, pursuant to law, would expire at the next annual election shall expire and their successors shall be elected on such day.  If the meeting determine to change the number of vestrymen and manner of electing wardens and vestrymen, there shall be elected at the first annual election thereafter, one-third of the number of vestrymen so determined on, to hold office for three years;  one-third thereof to hold office for two years;  and one-third thereof to hold office for one year;  and one churchwarden to hold office for one year, and one to hold for two years;  and thereafter at the annual election there shall be elected one-third of the number of vestrymen determined on at such meeting and one churchwarden.  Any Protestant Episcopal parish, heretofore incorporated, which has changed the number of its vestrymen and the manner of electing wardens and vestrymen pursuant to the provisions of this section, may make further changes in the number of its vestrymen in the manner provided in section forty-four of this chapter.