An election of such board of freeholders may be called at any
time by the legislative authority of any such city, and such
election shall be called by the chief executive officer of any
such city within ten days after there shall have been filed with
him a petition demanding the same, signed by a number of
qualified electors residing within such city, equal to
twenty-five per centum of the total number of votes cast at the
next preceding general municipal election; and such election
shall be held not later than thirty days after the call therefore.
At such election a vote shall be taken upon the question of
whether or not further proceedings toward adopting a charter
shall be had in pursuance to the call, and unless a majority of
the qualified electors voting thereon shall vote to proceed
further, no further proceeding shall be had, and all proceedings
up to that time shall be of no effect.