CHAPTER 27

An Act to amend and reenact § 4, as amended, of Chap 280 of the
Acts of Assembly of 1920, approved March 16, 1920, and being the
charter of the city of Hampton, relating to the election and organiza-
tion of the council.

[H 158]

Approved February 12, 1952

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 4, as amended, of Chap 230 of the Acts of Assembly of
1920, approved March 16, 1920, be amended and reenacted as follows:

4. The Council of the city shall consist of five members who shall
be elected on the second Tuesday in June, nineteen hundred and twenty,
on a general ticket at large, from the electors of the city, and who shall
serve for a term of four years from the first day of September, next
following the date of their election, and until their successors shall have
been duly elected and qualified; provided, that in the first election here-
under the three candidates having the highest number of votes shall serve
for four years, and the two candidates having the next highest number
of votes shall serve for two years; the successors to the two candidates
elected for two years to be elected by the qualified voters of the city on
the second Tuesday in June, nineteen hundred and twenty-two, for a term
of four years—an election being held accordingly every two years to elect
successors to the councilmen, whose terms of office expire as herein pro-
vided; and provided, further, that the members of the first council elected
hereunder shall have the power, and it shall be their duty, within ten days
after the date of the certification of their election, to qualify and organize
for the sole purpose of electing a city manager, as hereinafter provided;
and the said council shall, if practicable, elect a city manager prior to
the said first day of September, nineteen hundred and twenty, whose
active service shall begin on that day, at the same time as their own.
The council shall be a continuing body, and no measure pending before
such body shall abate or be discontinued by reason of the expiration of
the term of office, or removal of the members of said body or any of them.
The council shall elect one of its members to preside over its meetings,
and he shall be ex-officio mayor, who shall be elected for a term of two
years, in the year nineteen hundred and twenty-eight, and each two years
thereafter. He shall have the same powers and duties as other members
of the council and be entitled to a vote on all questions, but shall have no
veto, and he shall be the official head of the city. With the exception of
those officers required by the Constitution of the State to be elected by
popular vote, the members of the council shall be the only elective city
officials. Any vacancy in the council, except as otherwise provided in this
charter, shall be filled by the remaining members. Each member of the
council shall receive such salary annually as the council may fix not in
excess of * one thousand dollars except the President, whose salary shall
be not in excess of * twelve hundred dollars annually, such salary to be
payable * monthly. Absence from three successive regular meetings shall
operate to vacate the office of a member, unless the absence is excused
by the council by resolution setting forth the reason thereof, and entered
upon the journal.