Chap. 7.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sub-section (z) of section 2, and sec-
tion 7 of chapter sixty-four of the Acts of nineteen hundred and twenty-two,
entitled an act to provide a new charter for the city of Suffolk and to repeal
the existing charter of said city and the several acts amendatory thereof and all
other acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act, so far as they relate to
the said city of Suffolk, approved February twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and
twenty-two. [H B 18]
Approved February 11, 1932

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That subsec-
tion (z) of section two, and section seven of chapter sixty-four of the
Acts of nineteen hundred and twenty-two, entitled an act to provide a
new charter for the city of Suffolk and to repeal the existing charter
of said city and the several acts amendatory thereof and all other acts
and parts of acts inconsistent with this act so far as they relate to the
said city of Suffolk, approved February twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred
and twenty-two, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 2. (z). To make and enforce all ordinances, rules and
regulations necessary or expedient for the purpose of carrying into
effect the powers conferred by this charter or by any general law, and
to impose penalties for the violation of such ordinances, rules and
regulations, or any of them, by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars
or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both. The city may main-
tain a suit to restrain by injunction the violation of any ordinance,
notwithstanding such ordinance may provide punishment for its vio-
lation. ,

Whenever any fine shall be imposed but not paid, a writ of fieri
facias may be issued on the judgment unless an appeal be forthwith
taken, where the judgment is appealable. When such writ is issued
by the civil and police justice, it shall be returnable within sixty days.

The civil and police justice or the circuit court of the city may, in-
dependently of the issuance of a writ of fieri facias, commit the defend-
ant to jail until the fine and costs are paid, or until the costs are paid,
where there is no fine, but when the fine and costs, or the costs where
there is no fine, do not exceed five dollars, such confinement in jail
shall not exceed ten days, when more than five dollars but not in ex-
cess of ten dollars, it shall not exceed twenty days, when more than ten
dollars but not in excess of twenty-five dollars, it shall not exceed one
month, when more than twenty-five dollars but not in excess of fifty
dollars, it shall not exceed two months, and in no case shall such con-
finement exceed three months. The jailor, upon such commitment,
shall note the amount of fine and costs, or costs where there ‘s no fine,
and the date of commitment, and shall, without further order cr direc-
tion, release the defendant from jail promptly upon the expiration of
the limitation above prescribed, and the defendant shall not thereafter
be imprisoned for failure to pay the fine and costs, or the costs, in that
case. Such confinement shall not, however, be a satisfaction of the
fine and costs, in whole or in part, but same shall continue to be a
judgment debt due the city, enforceable by execution or otherwise.

Section 7. Officers elective by council; rules—The council shall
elect one of its members to preside over its meetings, who shall be en-
titled president of the council and who shall be ex-officio mayor, and
shall also elect another member to be vice-president of the council.
The council shall also elect a city manager, a city clerk, a city attorney,
a civil and police justice and a substitute civil and police justice. The
city clerk, by and with the consent of the council, may appoint one
deputy, who may perform any of the duties of the city clerk, but shall
receive no salary or other compensation from the city for his or her
services, unless the council by ordinance provides for the same. The
deputy city clerk may also be deputy clerk of the circuit court of the
city. All elections by the council shall be viva voce and the vote re-
corded in the journal of the council. The council may determine its
own rules of procedure, may punish its members for misconduct, and
may compel the attendance of members in such manner and under such
penalties as may be prescribed by ordinance. A majority of all the
members of the council shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a
smaller number may adjourn from time to time. The council shall
keep a journal of its proceedings.