The town shall be governed by a town council composed of six
council members and the mayor, all of whom shall be qualified voters
of the town and shall be elected by the qualified voters of the town
in the manner provided by law from the town at large. The council
and the mayor in office at the time of adoption of this charter shall
continue in office until the expiration of the terms for which they
were elected or until their successors are elected and qualified.
An election for three council members and the mayor shall be held
on the first Tuesday in November, 2008 and for three council members
and the mayor on the first Tuesday in November, 2010. Elections shall
be held on the first Tuesday in November every two years thereafter.
The council members shall serve for a term of four years, and the
mayor shall serve for a term of two (2) years, or until their successors
are elected and qualified; however, those persons elected in November
2008, shall not take office until the first day of January 2009 following
their respective elections. Subsequently, commencing in 2010, the
term of each person elected under this section shall begin on the
first day of January next following their election.
[Amended by Ch. 135, Acts of Assembly, 2020, approved 3-4-2020]
Any vacancy in the council shall be filled within 45 days, for
the unexpired term, by a majority of the remaining voting members,
provided that if the term of office to be filled does not expire for
two years or more after the next regular election for councilmen following
such vacancy and such vacancy occurs in time to permit it, then the
council shall fill such vacancy only for the period then remaining
until such election, and a qualified person shall then be elected
by the qualified voters and shall from and after the date of his election
and qualification succeed such appointee and serve the unexpired term.
The number of candidates for council equal to the number of vacancies
to be filled for full terms receiving the highest number of votes
shall be entitled to such full terms and the candidate receiving the
next highest number of votes shall be entitled to the unexpired term,
caused by such vacancy.
(a)
A Continuing Body. The council shall be a continuing body, and no
measure pending before such body nor any contract or obligation incurred
shall abate or be discontinued because of the expiration of the term
of office or removal of any council member.
(b)
Management of Town's Affairs. The town council shall collectively
have, subject to the provisions of this Act and to general laws of
the Commonwealth of Virginia, the management and control of the assets,
fiscal and municipal affairs, and day to day operations, of the town.
The council may delegate its control from time to time as the council
may deem necessary and appropriate.
The mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the town.
The mayor shall have and exercise all the privileges and authority
conferred by general law not inconsistent with the charter. The mayor
shall preside over and maintain orderly meetings of the town council
and shall have the right to speak therein as a member of the council.
The mayor shall not have a vote as a member of council except to break
a tie vote. The mayor shall be the head of the town government for
all its ceremonial purposes and shall perform such other duties consistent
with the office as may be imposed by the town council. The mayor shall
authenticate the mayor's signature on such documents or instruments
as the council, this charter or the laws of the Commonwealth shall
require.
The town council shall, by a majority of all of its voting members,
elect a vice mayor from its membership at its first meeting to serve
for a term of two years in the absence of or during the disability
of the mayor; and the vice mayor shall possess the powers and discharge
the duties of the mayor when serving as mayor.
[Amended by Ch. 135, Acts of Assembly, 2020, approved 3-4-2020]
a.
The council shall fix the time of its regular meetings, which shall
be at least once each month, and, except as herein provided, the council
shall follow Robert's Rules of Order, latest edition, for rules
of procedure necessary for the orderly conduct of its business, except
where inconsistent with the laws of the Commonwealth.
b.
Minutes shall be kept of its official proceedings, and its meetings
shall be open to the public unless an executive session is called
according to law.
c.
The mayor or any other two members of the council, may call a special
meeting upon a 36-hour written notice or an emergency meeting upon
a 12-hour written notice to each council member stating the time,
place, and purpose for the meeting and served personally or left at
the council members' usual place of business or residence by
the Chief of Police, or his or her designee. No business shall be
transacted by the council in such special or emergency meeting which
has not been stated in the notice; however, these requirements shall
not apply when all members of the council attend such meetings or
waive notice thereof, nor shall this regulation apply to an adjourned
session from a regular meeting.
d.
The agenda for a regular scheduled monthly council meeting shall
include a provision for public comments as defined in the town ordinances.
e.
A majority shall consist of four voting members of the six voting
members of the council and shall constitute a quorum.
Compensation for the mayor and council members shall be set
by the council subject to any limitations placed thereon by the laws
of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
