CHAPTER 44

An Act to amend and reenact § 2 of Chapter 12 of an act entitled “An act

to provide a new charter for the city of Portsmouth”, approved March

10, 1908, as amended, relating to the establishment of a civil service
commission for said city and the administration thereof. P

{S B 32]

Approved February 16, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 2 of Chapter 12 of an act entitled “An act to provide a new
charter for the city of Portsmouth”, approved March 10, 1908, as amended,
be amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 2. The classified civil service provisions of this chapter shall include
all employees of the police and fire departments, or any other departments
of said city which may come within the purview of this chapter, as herein-
after provided, but shall not include the chief of the police or fire depart-
ment or the head of any other department. However, if a member of the
police department or fire department is appointed as chief of that depart-
ment and is afterwards removed from such position, he shall be reinstated
to his former position in the department for which he has qualified under
the civil service regulations, provided, he is not subject to dismissal under
any of the provisions of § 6 of this chapter. All appointments to and pro-
motions in said departments shall be made solely on merit, efficiency and
fitness, which shall be ascertained by open competitive examination and
impartial investigation.

No person shall be reinstated or transferred, suspended or discharged
from any such place, position or employment contrary to the provisions
of this chapter.