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CHARTER Ch. 2, § 4 Provided, however, those councilmen initially elected following the amendment of this Charter in nineteen hundred seventy-five shall not take office until the expiration of the terms of their predecessors, thereby their initial term shall be for a term of three years ten months. The council shall be a continuing body and no measure pending before such body shall abate or be discontinued by reason of the expiration of the term of office or removal of said body, or any of them. When a vacancy occurs in the council, it shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members within thirty days of such vacancy. If a majority of the remaining members cannot agree, or do not act within said thirty-day period, and if at least one hundred eighty days remain in the unexpired term at the expiration of said thirty-day period, the council, immediately upon expiration of said thirty-day period, shall petition the Circuit Court of the City of Martinsville to issue a writ of election to fill such vacancy. Upon receipt of such petition, the court shall issue the writ of election, directed to the secretary of the Electoral Board of the City of Martinsville, designating the office to be filled and the time and place of holding such election; and, upon receipt of such writ, the said secretary shall publish a copy thereof at not less than ten public places within the city or publish the same in a newspaper of general circulation at least ten days before such election. No such special election shah be ordered held within the sixty days prior to a general or primary election. Any member of the council who shall be voluntarily absent from three regular meetings of the council consecu- tively, may be removed from office by resolution of the council declaring his seat vacant. (Acts 1975, Ch. 416; Acts 1977, Ch. 132, § 1) Sec. 3. Qualification of members. Any person qualified to vote in the city shall be eligible to the office of councilman. Sec. 4. Memberts forfeiture of office for felony conviction; conflict of interests; limitations on dealing with administrative service. (a) Any member of the council who shall have been convicted of a felony while in office shall thereby forfeit his office. (b) No member of the council or other officer shall be interested directly or indirectly in the profits of any contract or work, or be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in the sale to the city of any land, materials, supplies, or services (other than official services). Any member of the council or any other officer of the city, who shall knowingly offend against the provisions of this section, shall be subject to removal from office by proceedings in either the circuit court or corporation court* of the city for such purpose in the manner provided by law for removal of public officials from office by reason of malfeasance or misfeasance. (c) Except for the purpose of inquiry, the council and its members shall so long as the city manager form of government obtains deal with the administrative service solely through the city manager, and neither the council nor any member thereof shall have authority to give orders to any of the subordinates of the city manager, either publicly or privately. *Editor's note--The corporation court no longer exists. Supp. No. 47 13