It shall be the duty of the select and common councils of said city to designate the place of holding the elections in the several election divisions of the wards in said city, and to notify the sheriff thereof at least thirty days prior to the second Tuesday of October next; and shall have full power and authority to remove or change the place of holding the elections in any of the said election divisions whenever, by reason of inability to hold said election at the place so designated, a change shall become necessary.