Chap. 24.—An ACT to authorize the several cities and towns of this Com-
monwealth to appoint officers and employees in addition to those expressly
authorized in their respective charters and provide for the filling of va-
cancies in all municipal offices for the unexpired term.

Approved February 17. 1906.

1. Be it enacted by the genera] assembly of Virginia, That the coun-
cil of every city or town of this Commonwealth having in their several
charters the power to appoint certain municipal officers shall, in addition
to such power, have power to appoint such other officers and employes
ax the council may deem proper, or any committee of such council, or any
municipal board, or the mayor of the city or town, or any head of a de-
partment of such city or town government, may also appoint such officers
and employes as the council may determine, the duties and compensation
of which officers and employes shall be fixed by the council of the city or
town, except so far as the council may authorize such duties to be fixed
by such committee or other appointing power. and may require of any of
the officers and employes so appointed bonds, with sureties in proper pen-
alties, payable to the city or town in its corporate name, with condition
for the faithful performance of said duties. All officers so appointed may

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be removed from office at their pleasure by joint resolution of the two
branches, and where the appointment is by a committee or board, by a
vote of such committee or board, or where such appointment is by the
mayor or head of a department, such removal may be by order of the
mayor or head of department. In case of vacancies occurring in any
municipal position so authorized to be filled, a qualified person may be
appointed to fill such position for the unexpired term by the proper ap-
pointing power; and in case of vacancy in any municipal office which is
elective by the people, if there be no general election during the unex-
pired term at which such vacancy can be legally filled, the city or town
council may elect a qualified person to fill such vacancy until a qualified
person can be elected by the people and shall have qualified for the next
succeeding term, or when such general election does occur during the un-
expired term at which such vacancy can be filled, such city or town
council shall elect a qualified person to fill such vacancy until a qualified
person is elected to fill such vacancy at such general election and shall
have qualified.