(a) 
The town shall be governed by an elected mayor and council who shall be chosen in the manner and for the terms hereinafter provided and by such other officers and employees as may be duly appointed pursuant to this charter, general law or ordinance.
(b) 
The mayor and council members shall have been citizens, residents and registered voters of the town for at least two years immediately preceding their respective elections.
The town shall be divided into four wards in the manner prescribed by ordinance and general law.
(a) 
The mayor shall be elected at large by the voters of the town at the general election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, or at such other times as may be provided by law for holding general elections, and shall serve for a term of two years.
(b) 
Members of the council shall be elected by the voters of the town from their respective wards, electing one councilman from each ward every year for a term of two years, at the general election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, or at such other times as may be provided by law for holding general elections.
(c) 
On the date on which this act shall become operative the then mayor and council members shall continue to hold office for the remainder of their unexpired terms until their successors shall have been elected in the regular municipal elections.
Vacancies in any elective office shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term at the next general election occurring not less than sixty days after the occurrence of the vacancy. The council shall fill the vacancy temporarily by appointment to serve until the qualification of the person so elected.