Chap. 309.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 4 of an act entitled an act to
incorporate the town of Falls Church, in the county of Fairfax, approved
March 30, 1875, as heretofore amended, said section being in relation to the
town council. [fH B 335]

Approved March Z5, 1932

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
four of an act entitled an act to incorporate the town of Falls Church,
in the county of Fairfax, approved March thirtieth, eighteen hundred
and seventy-five, as heretofore amended, be amended and re-enacted
so as to read as follows:

Section 4. The council shall have power to define and mark the
boundaries of streets, lay out new streets, alleys, lanes and sidewalks ;
to provide for surveying, grading, paving, repairing, draining, laying
out, extending, widening, opening, closing, straightening, or relocating
any street, sidewalk, alley, lane or sewer in said town; and may con-
demn or purchase the rights of way for streets, alleys, lanes, sewers
or water mains which it may determine to be necessary for the public
good; to provide for the removal of nuisances; to provide for the
removal of obstructions in streets, lanes, and alleys; and for the estab-
lishment of building lines and building regulations ; to provide for order
and quiet and the observance of the Sabbath; to provide and protect
shade trees; to establish and maintain a fire department and to have
the exclusive right to levy, within its discretion, a fire protection tax
in such manner as other taxes are levied in said town, for the purpose
of appropriating funds to the fire department; to purchase and main-
tain fire hydrants, to compensate the water department of the town
for water used in fighting fires and for other similar purposes; that
the counties of Arlington and Fairfax shall be prohibited from levying
any fire protection tax within said town, provided that the discon-
tinuance of such levy by Arlington county shall not operate to relieve
such county from liability under any act providing compensation for
death or injury of volunteer firemen; and provided further that the
said town shall annually pay over to the county of Arlington such
proportion of the insurance premiums and other costs accruing to the
said county in connection with the administration of such firemen’s
relief act as the taxable values of real estate and tangible personal
property in that portion of the town lying within Arlington county
bears to the total values of said property lying within said county in-
cluding said town; to divide the corporation into wards; to prescribe
regulations in reference to the public health; to establish and maintain
a system of sewers and a system of water works within the said town
and to levy such tax as may be necessary for the operation and main-
tenance of same; and the said town may, within its discretion and when
public necessity requires it, extend such system of water works and
sewers into territory in Fairfax county immediately adjacent to or in
the vicinity of the limits of said town; and the town shall pass all
necessary ordinances to carry into effect the objects of this charter;
to punish any person or persons for the violation thereof by fine or
imprisonment or both; to appoint and fix the compensation of police-
men and such other officers as may be necessary to enforce the provi-
sions of this charter; and, whenever it may be satisfied that the public
health, comfort or convenience requires it, construct sidewalks, curb-
ings, gutters, and sewers along the streets, avenues, roads, and alleys
of said town, charging not to exceed one-third of the cost of such con-
struction of sidewalks and sewers upon each tract or piece of abutting
property to be benefited thereby, as provided by law, and shall enforce
the collection of such special assessments as provided by law; provided,
however, that no. such assessments shall be in excess of the peculiar
benefits resulting therefrom to such abutting landowners. The town
may exercise the powers of road commissioners over the roads and
streets of the town and shall have control over all property belonging
to the town. For the purpose of condemning rights of way for streets,
alleys, lanes, sewers or water mains, the council of said town shall
have the power and jurisdiction of counties as in the matter of estab-
lishment and alteration of roads.