Chap. 247.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sections 3,5, 7,9 and 14, and to
repeal section 61 of an act entitled an act to change the name of the town of
Goodson to the city of Bristol, and to provide a new charter for the same,
approved February 12, 1890, and to add independent sections thereto.

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Approved February 12, 1894.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That sec-
tions three, five, seven, nine and fourteen of an act entitled an act
to change the name of the town of Goodson to the city of Bristol,
and provide a new charter for the same, be amended and re-enacted
80 as to read as follows: |

§ 3. The municipal officers of said city shall consist of a mayor, a
treasurer, nine councilmen, a clerk of a court of hustings or ‘corpo-
ration, an attorney for the commonwealth, a sergeant, a commis-
sioner of the revenue, one justice of the peace from each ward, one
constable for the city and one chief of police, and such other officers
as may be hereinafter provided for.

§ 5. The election of municipal officers mentioned in the third sec-
tion of this act, except the attorney for the commonwealth, the com-
missioner of the revenue, the sergeant, the treasurer, the clerk of the
hustings court, the mayor and chief of police, shall be held on the
fourth Thursday in May, eighteen hundred and ninety, and on the
fourth Thursday in May every year thereafter. The attorney for
the commonwealth, the sergeant and commissioner of the revenue
shall be elected on the fourth Thursday in May, eighteen hundred
and ninety, and on the fourth Thursday in May every second year
thereafter. The treasurer shall be elected on the fourth Thursday
in May, eighteen hundred and ninety, and the fourth Thursday in
May every third year thereafter. ‘The clerk of the court of hustings
shall be elected on the fourth Thursday in May, eighteen hundred
and ninety, and on the fourth Thursday in May every six years
thereafter. The mayor shall be elected on the fourth Thursday in
May, eighteen hundred and ninety-four, and on the fourth Thurs-
dav in May every second year thereafter. The chief of police shall
be elected on the fourth, Thursday in May, eighteen hundred and
ninety-four, and on the fourth Thursday in May every second year
thereafter. Said elections shall be conducted under the provisions
of the general election laws of the State. All elections shall be
held at the city court-house of said city, and each qualified voter
may vote for members of the city council as hereinafter provided,
and one justice of the peace from each ward and such other city offi-
cers to be elected, and the persons receiving the highest vote for city
councilman in each ward shall be declared elected, and the person
receiving the highest vote in each ward for justice of the peace shall
be declared elected, and in all other cases the person receiving the
highest number of votes shall be declared elected.

§ 7. The mayor shall be elected by the qualified voters of the city
of Bristol for the term of two years. His salary shall be fixed by
the city council, and he shall receive no other compensation or
emoluments whatever, except such fees as allowed by law as a
justice of the peace, and his salary shall not be diminished during
his term of office.

S$ 9. It shall be his duty to communicate to the city council annu-
ally at the beginning of each fiscal year, or oftener, if he shall be
required by said council, a general statement as to the condition of
the city in relation to its government, finances and improvements,
with such recommendations as he may deem proper; and shall have
power to appoint and swear in special policemen when the public
good may require if, and shall have such powers as policemen. No
ordinance of the council shall become a law and no resolution making
an appropriation shall be binding until approved and signed by the
mayor. In case of his disapproval, he shall return the same to the
council with his reasons therefor in writing, and the council then
shall have the right to pass such ordinance or resolution over his
veto by a vote of seven-ninths of all the members of the council.
In case the mayor fails to either approve or disapprove an ordi-
nance or resolution within ten days after it has been presented
him, it shall become a law.

S$ 14. The city council shall elect annually one of its memibers to
act as president, Who shall preside at its meetings, and when from
any cause he shall be absent, the council shall elect a president pro
tempore. The mayor or president shall have the power to call a
meeting of the council whenever they deem if necessary, and in ease
of their absence, inability or refusal, the council may be convened
by order of the clerk upon request of any three members In writing,
but no special meeting shall be convened until notice has been
served upon each member of the council in person or by leaving a
copy of the same at his place of abode. Said notice may be served
by the chief of police or any assistant.

2. The chief of police shall be authorized to appoint such number
of assistant policemen as may be authorized by the council, which
appointments shall be reported to the council at the next regular
meeting thereof, and, if approved by it, shall be confirmed. Such
chief and policemen ‘shall constitute the police force of the city.
Said assistants shall hold their respective positions for the term of
one year, unless sooner removed. The police force shall be under
the control of the mayor for the purpose of enforcing peace and order
aud executing the laws and ordinances of the city, and shall also
perform such other duties as the council may prescribe. For the
purpose of enabling it to execute its duties and powers, each member
of the police force is hereby made and constituted a conservator of
the peace and endowed with all the powers of a constable in criminal
cases, and all other powers which under the laws of the city mav be
necessary to enable him to discharge the duties of bis office. Uni-
form, rules and regulations shall be prescribed by the mayor and
approved by the council. The pay of all policemen shall be pre-
sertbed by the council.

At the general election to be held on the fourth Thurday in
May, eighteen hundred and ninety-four, there shall be elected nine
councilmen, six of whom shall hold oflice for one year and three for
two years, and thereafter six councilmen shall be elected each year
at said general election, three for the term of one year and three for
the term of two years. Each ward shall be represented by an equal
number of short and long term members of the council. Every
voter shall designate on his ballot the person voted for as council-
man for the long term in each ward and the persons voted for as
councilmen for the short term in each ward.

4. The chief of police shall be elected by the qualified voters of
the city of Bristol for the term of two years. His salary shall be
fixed by the city council and shall not be diminished during his
term of office. He shall, before entering upon the duties of his
office, be sworn in accordance with the laws of the state by any one
authorized to administer oaths under the laws of this state, execute
bond in such penalty as the council may require, with sureties to be
approved by the council, pavable to the city by its corporate name
for the faithful discharge of his duties. His duties shall be such as
prescribed by law and such as may be prescribed by the council.

do. That section sixty-one of an act entitled an act to change the
name of the town of Goodson to the city of Bristol, and provide a
new charter for the same, approved February twelfth, eighteen hun-
‘ev and ninety, be, and ‘the same is hereby, repealed.

» <All acts or parts of acts in conflict with this act be, and the
kame are hereby, repealed.

7. This act shall be in force from its passage.