Chap. 344.—An ACT to provide a new charter for the town of Scottsville.
| [H B 323]

Approved March 26, 1932

Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, as follows:

1. The inhabitants of the town of Scottsville as its limits are, or
hereafter may be established by law, and as heretofore laid off into
lots, streets, and alleys as shown on the plat of said town, shall con-
tinue to be, and they are hereby declared to be, a body politic and cor-
porate, under the name and style of the town of Scottsville, and as
such shall have and may exercise all powers which are now, or here-
after may be, conferred upon or delegated to towns under the Constitu-
tion and laws of the State of Virginia as fully and completely as
though said powers were specifically enumerated herein, and no enum-
eration of particular powers by this charter shall be held to be
exclusive.

2. There shall be a mayor who shall be an elector of said town anc
who, together with the six members of the council, shall constitute the
governing body of the town. He shall be elected by the qualified elec-
tors of said town at the general election to be held on the seconc
Tuesday in June, nineteen hundred and thirty-three, and every twe
years thereafter, and shall enter upon the duties of his office on the
first day of September next succeeding his election, and shall continue
in office until his successor is elected and qualified.
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There shall be six councilmen, all of whom shall be electors of said
town, who, together with the mayor, shall constitute the governing
body of said town, and they shall be elected by the qualified electors of
said town at the general election to be held on the second Tuesday in
June, nineteen hundred and thirty-three, and every two years there-
after. All members of the council shall enter upon the duties of that
office on the first day of September next succeeding their election, and
shall continue in office until their successors are elected and qualify.

3. The mayor and councilmen, and other municipal officers of said
town, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, shall
be sworn in according to the laws of the State by any one authorized
to administer oaths.

4. The mayor and councilmen in office in said town at the time of
the passage of this act shall be continued in office until the expiration
of the terms for which they were elected, and until their successors are
duly elected and qualified according to law. ,

5. The mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the town, and
shall receive a salary to be fixed by the council. He shall see that the
ordinances and by-laws of the town are fully executed and enforced.

6. The mayor shall preside over the deliberations of the council,
but shall have no vote except in case of a tie. He shall have jurisdic-
tion to try all violations of town ordinances, and inflict such punish-
ment and impose such fines as may be prescribed for a violation of the
same. He shall be entitled to like fees of a justice of the peace in civil
and criminal cases. He shall by virtue of his office possess all the
jurisdiction and exercise all the powers and authority in civil and
criminal cases, including violations of the prohibition laws, arising in
said town, or within one mile of the corporate limits thereof, now con-
ferred, and hereafter conferred, by law upon mayors of towns. The
mayor shall have the power to appoint and swear in special policemen
for any occasion when in his judgment it is expedient for the peace and
good government of the territory under the criminal jurisdiction of
said town, and at such compensation as may be fixed by the council.
In case of a vacancy in the office of town sergeant the mayor shall have
power and authority to fill same by temporary appointment until the
council shall meet and appoint a town sergeant, such temporary ap-
pointment by the mayor to be at such compensation as may be fixed
by the council.

7. It shall be the duty of the mayor to communicate to the council
as often as he shall deem it expedient, or be required to do so by the
council, a general statement of the situation and conditions of the
town in relation to its government, finances, and improvements, with
such recommendations as he shall deem proper.

8. In case of absence, or inability, of the mayor the council shall
appoint one of their number to discharge the municipal duties of the
mayor during such absence or inability. In case a vacancy shall occur
in the office of mayor the council shall appoint a qualified person to fill
such vacancy for the unexpired term. ,

9. The mayor shall have power to call a special meeting of the
council whenever he deems it necessary, stating the purpose for which
the meeting is called, and in case of the absence, inability, or refusal
of the mayor to call a special meeting, the council may be convened by
the order of any two members thereof.

10. The council shall appoint a town sergeant who shall be the
chief police officer of the town, and who shall hold office during the
pleasure of the council. His salary shall be fixed by the council. The
council may appoint additional police officer, or officers, for the town
whenever deemed necessary or expedient who shall hold office during
the pleasure of the council, and receive such compensation as the
council shall fix. Any town sergeant, or other police officer, may at
any time be removed from office by a majority of votes of the council.

The town sergeant shall perform such other duties as the council
may direct. He shall be vested with all the powers which the general
laws of the State confer upon constables and police officers.

The council may require the town sergeant to execute before the
mayor bond, with surety to be approved by him in the amount to be
approved by the council, conditioned for the faithful performance of
his duties as town sergeant.

11. The council shall appoint a town assessor and town treasurer,
who may be the same person, who shall hold office during the pleas-
ure of the council, and who shall receive such compensations as may
be fixed by the council.

The assessor shall annually make up the tax books showing all
property, real and personal, and its assessed value, subject to taxation
by the town, and the amount of tax thereon levied by the council. He
shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the council.

12. The treasurer shall qualify and give bond before the council
with surety approved by it in a penalty to be approved by the council.

13. The treasurer shall receive all money belonging to the town,
and shall perform such other duties as are, or may be, prescribed by
the council. He shall keep his books and accounts in such manner as
the council may prescribe, and such books and accounts shall always
be subject to the inspection of the mayor and council.

14. The treasurer, or by order of the council of the town, the town
sergeant, or any other person appointed by the council, shall collect
all taxes, licenses, and assessments which may be levied by the council,
and for this purpose the said treasurer, or other person appointed by
the council as aforesaid, shall be vested with power and be subject to
the liabilities and penalties now prescribed by law in regard to the
county treasurer of the State of Virginia in the levying and collecting
of taxes, and said treasurer, or person appointed as aforesaid to col-
lect said taxes, shall have full power to levy on property and sell the
same for the payment of such taxes as the said county treasurers of the
State of Virginia are now empowered by law to do, and such sales
shall be made upon the notice, and in such manner as now prescribed
by law in sales of personal property for State taxes.

15. The treasurer shall be required to keep all monies in his hands
belonging to the town in such place, or places, of deposit as the town
council by ordinance may provide or direct.

16. No money shall be paid out by the town treasurer except by
order of the council and upon a warrant, or check, of the clerk of the
council signed by the mayor, or in such other manner as may be pre-
scribed by the council.

17. The treasurer shall report to the town council, or a committee
thereof, as often as required a full and detailed account of all receipts
and expenditures during the month, and the state of the treasury. He
shall also keep a record of all warrants, or orders, their dates, amount,
number and the person to whom paid, specifying also the time of pay-
ment; and such warrants, or orders, shall be examined at the time of
making such report to the council by the auditing committee thereof
who shall examine and compare the same with the books of the treas-
urer and report discrepancies, if any, to the council.

18. The council shall appoint a clerk, to be known as the clerk of
the council, who may be either a member of the council or not.

The clerk of the council shall attend the meeting's of the council and
keep the record of its proceedings; he shall have the custody of the
corporate seal, and he shall keep all the papers that by the provisions,
or the direction of the council, are required to be filed with, or kept by
him; and he shall perform such other acts and duties as the council
may require. He shall receive such compensation as may be allowed
by the council.

19. The officers heretofore appointed by the council now in office,
and now serving, shall continue to discharge the duties of their respec-
tive offices until their terms expire, or until they are removed by the
council.

20. The said town of Scottsville, its council and officers, shall have
all the rights, privileges, and powers conferred by the general laws of
this Commonwealth upon towns, town councils, and town officers.

21. In addition to the powers herein and by general law conferred
the council of said town shall have the following powers:

To levy and collect taxes, and assessments on persons, property,
subject to local taxation, privileges, amusements, businesses, profes-
sions, and occupations, to issue licenses for the conduct, or operation
of privileges, amusements, business, professions, and occupations; to
make and collect charges and fees therefor; to make and enforce all
ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations for the government of
said town, and to provide penalties for the violation of same; to
establish, impose, and enforce water rates, and charges for public
utilities, or other services, productions, or conveniences, operated, ren-
dered, or furnished by the town; to establish zoning districts, and
adopt and endorse building regulations and restrictions; to- alter,
charge, and close streets, lanes, and alleys; to provide for the preserva-
tion of the general health of the inhabitants of said town, and to make
all necessary, proper, or convenient sanitary regulations; to exercise
full police powers, and establish and maintain a department, or divi-
sion, of police; to do all things whatsoever necessary, proper, expedi-
ent, or convenient for promotion, or maintaining the general welfare,
comfort, education, morals, government, health, trade, commerce, and
industries of the town or its inhabitants ; to make and enforce all ordi-
nances, resolutions, rules and regulations necessary, expedient, or con-
venient for the purpose of carrying into effect the powers conferred
herein, or by any general law, and to provide and impose suitable pen-
alties for the violation of such ordinances, resolutions, rules, and regu-
lations, or any of them, by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or
imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, or both.

22. The council shall have power to control and manage the fiscal
and municipal affairs of the town, and all property, real and personal,
belonging to the town, and may make such ordinances, orders, and
resolutions relating to the same as it may deem proper and necessary.

23. The council may acquire by purchase, gift, devise, condemna-
tion, or otherwise, property, real or personal, or any estate or interest
therein, within or without the town, for any of the purposes of the
town; and to hold, improve, sell, lease, mortgage, pledge, or otherwise
dispose of the same or any part thereof, including any property now
owned by said town.

24. The council may borrow money for town purposes in anticipa-
tion of current revenue for any year. :

25. The council shall meet in regular session once in each month at
a date fixed by ordinance, or resolution. Special meeting of the coun-
cil may be convened on the order of any two members thereof. A
majority of the members elected to the council shall constitute a
quorum.

26. Incase of a vacancy happening in the council by death, resig-
nation, removal, or otherwise, the council shall appoint a qualified per-
son to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.

27. The council shall appoint one of its members president who
shall, in the absence, or inability of the mayor, preside over the meet-
ings of the council. In the absence, or inability of the mayor, the
president of the council shall have the powers of, and perform the
duties of the mayor. a

28. Every ordinance of the council, imposing a penalty for its vio-
lation, shall, upon its passage, be conspicuously posted in said town.

29. Persons sentenced to jail for violations of town ordinances
may be confined in the jail of Albemarle county, the consent to use said
jail for said purpose being first obtained from the proper authorities of
Albemarle county.

30. The council may, whenever it shall deem it necessary, or ex-
pedient, require the fees collected as costs by the mayor in prosecutions
for violations of town ordinances be paid into the town treasury.

31. All ordinances now in effect, not in conflict with the provisions
of this act, shall continue in force until altered, amended, or repealed
by the council.

32. The council may require by ordinance that prisoners sentenced
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to jail for violations of town ordinances, or any of them, may be re-
quired to work on the streets of the town of Scottsville.

33. If any section, or provision, of this act shall for any reason be
adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid such
judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of said
act. -

34. The following acts of the general assembly of Virginia, amend-
ing the charter of the town of Scottsville, namely: an act approved
April thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-four; an act approved
March twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and seventy-one; an act ap-
proved February twenty-eighth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six; an
act approved March second, eighteen hundred and thirty-three; an act
approved March twenty-second, eighteen hundred and thirty-one; and
an act approved January twenty-second, eighteen hundred and eigh-
teen, in so far as said acts are in conflict with this charter, are hereby
repealed. |

35. In order that this act may be given effect as soon as practicable
an emergency is declared to exist, and this act shall be in force from its
passage.