Chap. 206.—An ACT to provide a new charter for the town of Quantico in the
county of Prince William. [H B 311]

Approved March 27, 1934

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia as follows:

1. That the town of Quantico, in the county of Prince William,
shall continue to be a town corporate, in the name and style of the town
of Quantico, and as such shall have and may exercise all powers which
are now, and hereafter may be conferred upon or delegated to towns
under the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as
fully and completely as though said powers were specifically enumerated
herein, and no enumeration of particular powers by this charter shall
be held to be exclusive.

2. The corporate limits of the town of Quantico, Virginia, as here-
tofore established, are hereby re-established as follows: Beginning at
a point in the low water line of the Potomac river, which said point
marks the intersection of the low water line of the Potomac river with
the north line of Potomac avenue, as set forth in a plat attached to an
order entered in the circuit court of Prince William county, Virginia,
incorporating the town of Quantico, in a proceeding for said purpose;
thence westerly along the north side of Potomac avenue to an iron pipe,
designated as monument one hundred and thirty-four and located one
hundred and forty-one and ten one-hundredths, more or less, feet east
of the east line of lot twenty-eight, block four, section “A” of the map
or plat of Quantico, duly recorded in deed book sixty-eight, in the clerk’s
office of the circuit court of Prince William county; thence at right
angles to the north line of Potomac avenue in a straight line southerly
to the center line of Fifth avenue, as shown on said plat, or monument
one hundred and thirty-five; thence in a generally westerly direction
at right angles to said last mentioned line, along the center line of
Fifth avenue to the west side of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac Railway Company’s right of way fourteen hundred and sixty-
three and twenty-three one-hundredths feet; thence in a general north-
westerly point of intersection with Little creek sixteen hundred and
eleven and sixty-three one-hundredths feet, more or less; thence fol-
lowing Little creek toward the Potomac river to monument one hun-
dred and thirty-seven; thence with the same monument one hundred
and thirty-eight and thence with said creek to monument one hundred
and thirty-nine; thence in a southwesterly direction to monument one
hundred and forty; thence in a southeasterly direction, running with
monument one hundred and forty-one and one hundred and forty-one-a
and to monument one hundred and forty-two at the mouth of said Little
creek to mean low water on said Potomac river; and thence with mean
low water and the meanders of said river to the point of beginning,
save and excepting therefrom lot number one, in block five, in section
“A”, and a strip of land sixteen feet wide and seven hundred and fifty
feet long running from said Potomac avenue to Little creek, heretofore
commandeered and taken over by the United States government as part
and parcel of a marine corps post.

3. In addition to the powers mentioned in section one hereof, the
town of Quantico shall have the following powers:

(a) To raise annually, by taxes and assessments in said town, such
sums of money as the council thereof shall deem necessary for the
purposes of said town, in such manner as said council shall deem ex-
pedient in accordance with the Constitution of Virginia and of the
United States.

(b) To levy and collect taxes, and assessments on persons, prop-
erty, subject to local taxation, privileges, amusements, business, pro-
fessions, and occupations; to issue licenses for the conduct or opera-
tion of privileges, amusements, business, professions, and occupations ;
-o make and collect charges and fees therefor. 7

(c) To impose special or local assessments for local improvements
and to enforce payment thereof, subject to such limitations prescribed
by the Constitution and laws of Virginia as may be in force at the
time of the imposition of such special or local assessments.

(d) To contract debts, borrow money and make and issue evi-
Jences of indebtedness, and have a common seal.

(e) To expend the money of the town for all lawful purposes.

¢ \ To acquire by purchase, gift, devise, condemnation or other-
wise property, real or personal, or any estate therein, within or without
the town, for any of the purposes thereof; and to hold, improve, sell,
lease, mortgage the same or any part thereof, including any property
now owned by the town.

(g) To construct, maintain, regulate and operate public improve-
ments of all kinds, including municipal and other buildings, grounds
and structures necessary or appropriate for the use and proper operation
of the various departments of the town.

(h) To own, operate, and maintain water works, and to acquire in
any lawful manner, in any county of the State, or from the United
States government, such water, lands, proper rights and riparian rights
as the council of said town may deem necessary for the purpose of
providing an adequate water supply to said town, and of piping or
conducting the same; to lay all necessary mains and service lines
within and without the corporate limits of said town; to erect and
maintain all necessary dams, pumping stations and other works in
connection therewith: to make reasonable rules and regulations for
promoting the purity of its said water supply, and for protecting the
same from pollution, and for this purpose to exercise full police
powers and sanitary patrol over all lands comprised within the limits of
the water shed tributary to any such water supply, wherever such lands
may be located in this State; to impose and enforce adequate penalties
for the violation of any such rules and regulations, and to prevent by
injunction any pollution or threatened pollution of such water supply,
and any and all acts likely to impair the purity thereof; and to carry
out the powers herein granted, the said town may exercise within the
State all powers of eminent domain provided by the laws of this State.

(i) To own, operate, and maintain electric light and gas works
either within or without the corporate limits of said town, and to sup-
ply gas and electricity, whether the same be generated or purchased by
said town, to its customers and consumers both within and without
the corporate limits of the said town, at such price and upon such terms
as may be prescribed, and to that end it may contract to purchas¢
electricity and gas from the owners thereof upon such terms as i
may deem expedient.

(j) To establish, impose, and enforce the collection of water, light
gas, and sewerage rates, and rates and charges for other services, prod.
ucts, or conveniences operated or furnished by the town; and the saic

council may prescribe a different rate to be paid for such services and
conveniences rendered to users or customers without the corporate
limits from the charges made to those within the corporate limits of
said town.

(k) To establish, enter, open, widen, extend, grade, improve, con-
struct, maintain, light, sprinkle and clean public streets, highways,
alleys, parkways and parks, and to alter or close the same; to regulate
the weight of loads to be hauled or carried over and upon the streets ;
to regulate the use of all such highways, parks, streets, alleys, parkways,
and public grounds; to prevent the obstruction and destruction, and
injury to, any of such streets and highways; to require any railroad
company operating a railroad at the place where any highway or street
is crossed within the town limits to erect and maintain at such crossing
any style of gate deemed proper, and keep a man in charge thereof,
or keep a flagman at such crossing during such hours as the council
may require in accordance with the general law of the State, and to
regulate the length of time such crossings may be closed due to any
operations of the railroad; to regulate the operation and speed of all
cars and vehicles upon said streets and highways, as well as the speed of
all engines, cars, and trains of railroads within the town; to permit or
prohibit poles and wires for electric, telephone and telegraph purposes
to be erected, and gas lines to be laid in the streets and alleys, and to
prescribe and collect an annual charge for such privilege hereafter
granted ; to require the owner or lessee of any electric light, telephone
or telegraph pole or poles or wires now in use or hereafter erected to
change the location or move the same.

(1) To acquire by gift, purchase, or by the exercise of the power
of eminent domain within this State, land or any interest or estate in
lands, rock quarries, gravel pits, sand pits, water and water rights,
and the necessary roadways thereto, either within or without the town,
and acquire and install machinery and equipment and build the necessary
roads and tramways thereto, and operate the same for the purpose of
producing materials required for any and all purposes of the said town.

(m) To establish, construct, and maintain sanitary sewers, sewer
lines, and cisterns and to require the abutting property owners to con-
nect therewith, and to establish, construct, maintain, and operate sewer-
age disposal plants, and to acquire by condemnation or otherwise,
within or without the town, all lands, rights of way, and other rights
and easements necessary for the purposes aforesaid, and to charge and
collect reasonable fees and assessments or costs of service for connect-
ing with and using the same.

(n) Subject to the provisions of the Constitution of Virginia and
of this charter, to grant franchises for public utilities.

(0) To collect and dispose of sewerage, offal, ashes, garbage, car-
casses of dead animals and other refuse, and to make reasonable charges
therefor; to acquire and operate reduction or other plants for the
utilization or destruction of such materials, or any of them, and to
contract for and regulate and collect for the disposal thereof, and to
require and regulate the disposal thereot ;

(p) To compel the abatement of all nuisances within the town, or
upon property owned by the town beyond its limits, at the expense of
the person or persons causing the same, or of the owner or occupant
of the ground or premises whereon the same may be, and to collect
said expense by suit or motion, or by distress and sale; to require all
lands, lots and other premises within the town to be kept clean and
sanitary and free from stagnant water, weeds, filth, and unsightly de-
posits, or to make them so at the expense of the owners or occupants
thereof, and to collect said expense by suit or motion, or by distress
and sale; to regulate or prevent slaughter houses or other noisome or
offensive business within the said town, the keeping of hogs, or other
animals, poultry or other fowl therein, or the exercise of any dangerous
or unwholesome business, trade, or employment therein; to regulate
the transportation of all articles through the streets of the town; to
compel the abatement of smoke and dust, and prevent unnecessary
noise, to regulate the location of stables and the manner in which they
shall be kept constructed; to regulate the location, construction and
operation and maintenance of bill boards; to provide how, when, and
under what conditions awnings may project over the streets and side-
walks from buildings, and sidewalks may be used for advertising and
display signs and merchandise; to generally define, prohibit, abate, sup-
press, and prevent all things detrimental to the health, morals, aesthetics,
safety, convenience, and welfare of the inhabitants of the town; and
to require all owners or occupants of property having sidewalks in front
thereof to keep the same clean and sanitary, and free from all weeds,
filth, unsightly deposits, ice, or snow.

(q) The council may, in its discretion, appoint a board of health
for the town and invest it with authority for the prompt and efficient
performance of its duties.

(r) To inspect, test, measure, and weigh any commodity or article
of consumption for use within the town, and to establish, regulate,
license, and inspect weights, meters, measures and scales.

(s) To extinguish and prevent fires, and to establish, regulate, and
control a fire department or division, to regulate the size, heights, ma-
terials and construction of buildings, fences, walls, retaining walls and
other structures hereafter erected, in such manner as the public safety
and conveniences may require; to remove, or require to be removed
or reconstructed any building, structure or addition thereto, which by
reason of dilapidation, defect of structure, or other causes, may have
become dangerous to life or property, or which may be erected con-
trary to law; to establish and designate from time to time fire limits,
within which limits: wooden buildings shall not be constructed, removed
to, added to, enlarged, or repaired, and to direct any and all future
buildings within such limits shall be constructed of stone, natural or
artificial, concrete, brick, iron or other fireproof material; and may
enact stringent and efficient laws for securing the safety of persons
from fires in halls and buildings used for public assemblies, entertain-
ments or amusements.

(t) To charge and to collect fees for permits to use public facili-
ies and for public service and privileges. Said town shall have the
power and right to charge a different rate for any service rendered or
‘onvenience furnished to citizens without the corporate limits from the
rates charged for similar service to citizens within the corporate limits.

(u) To prevent any person having no visible means of support,
paupers, and persons who may be dangerous to the peace and satety
of the town, from coming to said town from without the same; and
also to expel therefrom any such person who has been in said town
less than twelve months.

(v) To provide in or near the town lands to be used as burial
places for the dead; providing land for the same may be secured;
otherwise to provide same as near as may be to the town; to improve
and care for the same and the approaches thereto, and to charge for
and regulate the use of ground therein ; and to provide for the perpetual
upkeep and care of any plot or burial lot therein, the town is authorized
to take and receive sums of money by gift, bequest, or otherwise, to
be kept invested, and the income therefrom used in and about the
perpetual upkeep and care of the said lot or plot, for which the said
donation, gift, or bequest shall have been made.

(w) To exercise full police powers and establish and maintain a
department or division of police.

(x) To restrain and punish drunkards, vagrants and street beggars ;
to prevent and quell riots, disturbances, and disorderly assemblages ; to
suppress houses of ill-fame, and gambling houses; to prevent and punish
lewd, indecent and disorderly exhibitions in said town; and to expel
therefrom persons guilty of such conduct who have not resided therein
as much as one year.

(y) To license and regulate the holding and location of shows,
circuses, public exhibitions, carnivals and similar shows or fairs, or
prohibit the holding of the same or any of them within the town; to
require every owner of a motor vehicle residing in said town, on a
date to be designated by the council, to annually register such motor
vehicle and obtain a license to operate the same by making application
to the treasurer of said town, and to require said owner to pay an
annual license fee therefor, to be fixed by the council, but said license
fee shall not exceed the amount charged by the State on said machine.

(z) To make and enforce ordinances similar to the laws of the
State appertaining to ardent spirits.

(aa) To do all things whatsoever necessary or expedient, and law-
ful to be done, for promoting or maintaining the general welfare, com-
fort, education, morals, peace, government, health, trade, commerce
or industries of the town, or its inhabitants.

(bb) To prescribe any penalty for the violation of any town ord1-
nance, rule or regulation, or of any provisions of this charter, not ex
ceeding five hundred dollars, or twelve months imprisonment in jail, 01
both.

(cc) To prohibit and punish mischievous, wanton, or maliciou:
damage to school property, public property, and private property.

(dd) ‘To prohibit and punish minors frequenting, playing in, o1
loitering in any public poolroom, billiard parlor or tenpin alley, and tc
punish any proprietor or agent thereof for permitting same.

(ee) To pass and enforce all by-laws, rules, regulations and ordi.
nances which it may deem necessary for the good order and government
of the town, the management of its property, the conduct of its affairs
the peace, comfort, convenience, order, morals, health and protection of
its citizens or their property, and to do such other things, and pass
such other laws as may be necessary or proper to carry into full effect.
all power, authority, capacity, or jurisdiction, which is or shall be
granted to or vested in said town, or in the council or officers thereof,
or which may be necessarily incident to a municipal corporation.

The town of Quantico may maintain a suit to restrain by injunction
the violation of any ordinance, notwithstanding punishment may be
provided for the violation of such ordinance. ,

4, The government of said town shall be vested in a town council,
which shall be composed of a mayor and five councilmen, each and all
of whom shall be residents of, and qualified voters of said town. Va-
cancies in the office of mayor or councilmen shall be filled for the un-
expired term by a majority vote of the remaining members of the
council. The mayor shall preside over all meetings of said council,
and shall not vote upon any matter before the council except in the
case of a tie vote of councilmen voting. The mayor shall be the chiet
executive officer of the town, and shall have the jurisdiction and au-
thority of a justice of the peace for Prince William county, and shall
have exclusive jurisdiction for the trial of offenses arising under the
ordinances of said town. In the absence of the mayor the council shall,
by majority vote, select one of its members to act as mayor pro tem.

5. The mayor and councilmen in office at the time of the passage
of this act shall continue in office until the first day of September,
nineteen hundred and thirty-five, or until their successors are elected
and qualified. The election for mayor and councilmen shall be held
on the second Tuesday in June, nineteen hundred and thirty-five, and
every second year thereafter, and the mayor and councilmen elected
under this act shall enter upon the duties of their respective offices the
first day of September succeeding their election.

6. The officers of the said town, in addition to the mayor and
councilmen, shall be a treasurer, a clerk, and a sergeant, who shall be
electors of the town; the council may by ordinance provide for such
other officers, agents, and employees as it may deem appropriate, pre-
scribe their duties and fix their compensation. The treasurer, clerk, and
sergeant shall be elected by the council for a term of two years co-
incident with that of the council. The office of treasurer and clerk may
be filled by the same person, who may by a vote of two-thirds of all
the members of the council, be a member of the council.

7. The council shall fix the salaries of the mayor, councilmen, treas-
urer, clerk, and sergeant, and such other officers or agents as it may
employ, which shall not be increased or diminished during their term

of office of such officer or agent.

8. The council shall, by ordinance, adopt such rules as it may
deem proper for the regulation of its proceedings, and the time of its
meetings, and by a three-fourths vote of the whole council may expel
a member for good cause. A majority of the council shall constitute
1 quorum for the transaction of business, but no ordinance or resolu-
tion shall be adopted having for its object the levying of taxes or
contracting a debt except by a vote of two-thirds of the council. The
mayor shall preside at all meetings of the council. All meetings of the
council shall be public, unless. the council by a recorded affirmative vote
of two-thirds of its members shall declare that the public welfare de-
mands an executive session of the council; any citizen may have access
to the minutes and records of the council at any reasonable times.

9. The mayor, in addition to his duty in presiding over the council,
shall perform such other duties consistent with his office as may be
imposed by the council; he shall have and exercise all power and au-
thority conferred by general law on mayors of towns not inconsistent
with this charter; he shall be the official head of the town. In times
of public danger or emergency he may take command of the police
and maintain order and enforce the laws, and for this purpose may
deputize such assistant policemen as may be necessary. During his
absence or disability his duties shall be performed by another member
elected by the council as in this charter set forth. He shall authenticate
by his signature such documents and instruments as the council, this
charter, or the laws of the State shall require.

10. The town treasurer shall be the disbursing agent of the town
and have the custody of all moneys and all evidences of value belonging
to the town, or held in trust by the town. He shall receive all money
belonging to and received by the town and keep a correct account of
all receipts from all sources, and expenditures of all departments. He
shall collect all taxes and assessments, water rents, and other charges
belonging to and payable to the town, and for that purpose he is hereby
vested with any and all powers which are now, or may hereafter be
vested in county and State treasurers, for the collection of county, town,
and State taxes under the general law. He shall keep and disburse all
moneys or funds in such manner and in such places as may be de-
termined by ordinance or the provisions of law applicable thereto. He
shall pay no money out of the treasury except in the manner pre-
scribed by ordinance or general law; he shall perform such duties as are
usually incident to the office of commissioner of revenue in relation to
the assessment of property and the license taxes, and shall have power
to administer oaths in the performance of his official duties: and shall
make such reports and perform such other duties not inconsistent with
the office as may be required by the mayor, or by ordinance or resolu-
tion of the council. The treasurer shall not be entitled to any com-
mission for handling the funds of the town but shall be paid such sal-
ary as may be provided by the council, and before entering upon. the
duties of his office shall execute a bond in such amount and with suck
security as the council by ordinance may prescribe.
11. The town clerk shall be the clerk of the council, shall attend
all meetings thereof, and shall keep a record of its proceedings. He
shall keep all papers, documents, and records pertaining to the town,
the custody of which is not otherwise provided for. He shall: be
custodian of the town seal and shall affix it to all documents and in-
struments requiring the seal, and shall attest the same, and shall perform
such other duties as are required by general law or by the council by
ordinance or resolution.

12. The town sergeant shall have the same powers and discharge
the same duties as a constable within the corporate limits of the town;
he shall perform such duties as may be required of town sergeants by
the general law, and such other duties not inconsistent therewith as
may be required of him by ordinance or resolution of the council.

13. The council may, by ordinance, create the office of police justice
for, the town and such police justice may be granted jurisdiction and
powers similar to the jurisdiction and powers of police justices in cities
of this State. The term of office of such police justice shall not be for
a term extending beyond that of the council by which he may be ap-
pointed.

14. Licenses may be imposed by ordinance on business, trades,
professions and callings, and upon the persons, firms, associations and
corporations engaged therein, or doing, or offering to do, business
within the boundaries of said town, whose principal office is, or is not,
located in said town, except when prohibited by general law, whether
a license may be required therefor by the State or not, and it may ex-
ceed the State license if any be required; licenses may also be imposed
upon persons, firms, and corporations selling and delivering at the
same time at other than a definite place of business goods, wares or
merchandise, to licensed dealers or retailers in said town. It is the
purpose of this section to give the council of this town the power
to tax and license all subjects within its jurisdiction not withheld
from taxation by cities and towns by the laws of this State, whether
herein specifically enumerated or not.

For every town license issued by the treasurer under this charter
he may charge a fee to be prescribed by ordinance, not in excess of
seventy-five cents, and for transferring a license the fee shall not be in
excess of fifty cents, such fees to be paid by the person obtaining the
license or transfer, and the license or transfer may be withheld until
the fees are paid into the town treasury for town purposes, should any
such fees be prescribed by town ordinance.

15. A lien shall exist on all real estate within the corporate limits
for taxes, levies, and assessments in favor of the town, assessed thereon
from the commencement of the year for which the same were assessed,
and the procedure for collecting said taxes, for selling real estate for
town taxes, and for the redemption of real estate sold for town taxes
shall be the same as provided in the general law of the State to the same
extent as if the provisions of said general law were herein set out at
length. The said town and its treasurer shall have the benefit of all

other and additional remedies for the collection of town taxes which
are now, or hereafter may be granted or permitted under the general
aw.

16. All ordinances now in force in the town of Quantico, not in-
consistent with this charter, shall be and remain in full force until
altered, amended, or repealed by the council of said town.

17. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part 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 re-
mainder of said act, but shall be confined in its operations to the clause,
sentence, paragraph, or part thereof, directly involved in the con-
troversy in which said judgment shall have been rendered.

18. All contracts and obligations heretofore or hereafter made by
the present council and government of the town of Quantico while in
office, not inconsistent with this charter, or the Constitution and the
general laws of this State, shall be and hereby are declared to be
valid and legal.

19. The enumeration of particular powers and authority in this
charter shall not be deemed or held to be exclusive but in addition to
the powers herein enumerated, implied hereby, or appropriate to the
exercise thereof, the said town shall have and may exercise all other
powers which are now or may hereafter be possessed or enjoyed by
towns under the Constitution and general laws of this State.

20. An emergency existing, this act shall be in force from its pas-
sage.