SECTION 1.  Section 2-1 of article 2 of the charter of the city of Methuen, which is on file in the office of the archivist of the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (a) and inserting in place thereof the following:-

(a) Composition – There shall be a City Council consisting of nine members which shall exercise the legislative powers of the City. Six Councillors shall be nominated and elected from the voters by districts, two Councillors to be elected from each of the three districts of the City. Three Councillors shall be nominated and elected at large. Precincts 1, 2, 6, 10 and 14, to be known as the Central District; Precincts 3, 7, 9, 12 and 13, to be known as the East District; and Precincts 4, 5, 8, 11 and 15, to be known as the West District. (Increase in number of precincts from 9 to 12 approved by Legislature, June 10th, 1986, Chapter 88 of the Acts and Resolves of 1986). The City Council shall be the judge of the election and qualification of its members.

SECTION 2.  Section 7-4 of article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following:- 

The territory of Methuen shall be divided into fifteen precincts, so established as to consist of as nearly equal a number of inhabitants as it is possible in compact and contiguous territory; bounded insofar as possible by the center line of known streets or ways or by other well defined limits. The fifteen precincts shall be separated into three districts. The Central District shall include Precincts 1, 2, 6, 10 and 14; the East District shall include Precincts 3, 7, 9, 12 and 13; and the West District shall include Precincts 4, 5, 8, 11 and 15. (Increase in precincts from 9 to 12 approved by the Legislature June 10th, 1986 – Chapter 88 of the Acts and Resolves of 1986; see Resolution #1473).