Chap. 72.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 20 of an act entitled “an
act to incorporate the town of Berkley, in the county of Norfolk,” approved
rat 1890, as amended and re-enacted by an act approved February

Approved January 17, 1900.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
twenty of an act entitled an act to incorporate the town of Berkley, in
the county of Norfolk, approved March third, eighteen hundred and
ninety, as amended and re-enacted by an act approved February twenty-
fourth, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, be amended and re-enacted
so that said section shall hereafter read as follows:

§ 20. The council of said town shall have power to borrow money,
for the purpose of improvement of said town, by the issue and sale
of bonds of said town: provided, the aggregate amount of bonds so issued
and sold shall not exceed the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. Said bonds shall be registered or coupon bonds, shall state
the purpose for which they are issued, shall be issued in such denomi-
nations as the council may prescribe, and shall bear interest not to exceed
six per centum per annum, and shall be exempt from all town taxation.
The said bonds shall be made payable not later than thirty years from
their date, and may be made redeemable at any time after fifteen years
from their date. Said bonds shall be signed by the president of the
council of said town, and countersigned by the recorder, under the cor-
porate seal of said town, and shall be sold and negotiated in such manner
as the said council may prescribe: provided, that said bonds shall not
be sold for less than their par value. The council shall provide for the
payment of the accruing interest on said bonds by setting aside a suffi-
cient amount from the levy provided for in section five, and may provide
a sinking fund for the redemption of the principal of said bonds. The
internal improvements to be made in said town shall be under the general
control and management of an improvement board, who shall consist
of three electors, who shall be freeholders of said town. They shall be
elected by the council biennially for the term of two years. The mem-
bers of the first board shall be elected prior to the first day of June,
eighteen hundred and ninety-six, and their term shall begin on the first
day of June, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, and shall continue for
two years and until their successors are elected and qualified. They shall
qualify as other officers, and shall give such bonds as the council may
determine. They shall select from among themselves a chairman, who
shall be the business manager of the board, and shall receive such com-
pensation for his services as the council may determine upon. Said
board shall manage the affairs and business pertaining to all internal
improvements, subject to the approval of the council, employ labor,
receive proposals and award contracts, and enforce such rules and regula-
tions as they may adopt or as may be provided by law or the ordinances
of the town. The said board shall not be members of the council, and
are prohibited from being interested in any way with the contracts which:
may be made. :

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