1. A petition for consolidation shall contain the following:
(1) The names of the municipalities to be consolidated;
(2) The proposed effective date of consolidation;
(3) The number of votes cast in the last municipal election;
(4) A statement that all signers are registered voters in the affected municipality;
(5) The form of government, the name of the municipality as consolidated and the details of transition, such as which officers will serve, which employees shall be retained, what taxes will be collected, what ordinances will be in effect and similar matters for the operation of the consolidated municipality until the new governing body provides otherwise, may be included, but are not required.
2. All persons signing the petition for consolidation shall designate their address opposite their signatures, and said signatures shall be affixed before a person who shall certify, by affidavit acknowledged before a notary public, that said signatures were affixed in his or her presence.