Chap. 109.—An ACT to provide a new charter for the Town of North Tazewell, in
the County of Tazewell, and to repeal all acts or parts of acts in conflict there-
with. [H B 161]

Approved March 6, 1942

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That the
inhabitants of the Town of North Tazewell, in Tazewell County, as its
boundaries are prescribed by Section two hereof, or as its boundaries
may be hereafter established, be and continue to be a body politic and
corporate, in fact and in name, to be known and designated as the Town
of North Tazewell, and as such shall have and may exercise all powers
which are now, or may hereafter be conferred upon or delegated to towns
under the Constitution and the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia,
as fully and completely as though said powers were specifically enumer-
ated herein, and no enumeration of particular powers by this Charter
shall be held to be exclusive.

2. The territory contained within the limits of said town is
described as follows: , , ee |
Beginning at a point in Clinch River (situated north thirteen de-
grees twenty-two minutes west fifty-five and five-tenths feet from a set
steel, which said steel is supposed to be on line of lands formerly owned
by C..A. Fudge and Harriet Tynes) ; thence up the said river as it
meanders north sixty-five degrees thirteen minutes east one hundred
twenty and five-tenths feet; thence south fifty-five degrees thirty-one
minutes east two hundred and sixty-seven feet ; thence north eighty-eight
degrees thirty-nine minutes east ninety-seven and six-tenths feet ; thence
north thirty-two degrees one minute east sixty-four and nine-tenths feet ;
thence north four degrees six minutes east eighty-eight and one-tenth
feet; thence north thirty-two degrees sixteen minutes east one hundred
eight and three-tenths feet; thence north seventy-four degrees and forty-
one minutes east sixty-two and eight-tenths feet; thence south sixty-
eight degrees and three minutes east four hundred seventy-nine and
three-tenths feet to a point on line of said Tynes land and the land
formerly owned by W. L. Britts, now owned by Katherine H. Peery;
thence north seventeen degrees fifty-two minutes east thirty-three feet to
a fence post at the intersection of a fence with the south right of way
fence on the south side of the Norfolk & Western Railway Company ;
thence along the said south right of way line south seventy-two degrees
eight minutes east two hundred forty-one feet to a point; thence with a
curve to left with a radius of nine hundred twenty-one and nine-tenths
feet, a distance of two hundred sixty-nine and four-tenths feet to a point
on the said south right of way line; thence leaving said right of way line
north one degree forty-two minutes west five hundred seventy-four
and six-tenths feet crossing said railway and the state highway and with
line between the lands of Dan Williams and........ Moore to a large
white oak, a corner to said Williams and Moore and also to the lands of
T. E. Rosenbaum; thence north twenty-nine degrees west one thousand
two hundred eighty-seven and seven-tenths feet crossing through the
lands of said Rosenbaum to a point on the line between said Rosenbaum
and K. D. R. Harman; thence south fifty-six degrees eight minutes west
one thousand four hundred ninety-nine and three-tenths feet by the line
of said Harman on the northwest side of said Rosenbaum, and the C. P.
Beavers estate lands on the southeast side to a large hickory a corner to
said Harman and said Beavers land; thence south seventy-four degrees
thirty-minutes west two thousand seven hundred twenty and nine-tenths
feet crossing Whitley’s Branch and the public road and passing through
the lands of said Harman to a point on top or near top of a large hill;
thence south fifty-nine degrees thirty minutes west nine hundred eleven
and seven-tenths feet passing across said Harman land and the land of
Mrs. C. K. Hall to a point on the west side of an alley or road; thence
south two degrees one minute east one hundred fifty and four-tenths feet
to a point at the intersection of fences opposite or near opposite two
black walnuts (ash gone) ; thence south five degrees fifty-two minutes
east one hundred forty-four feet to a point on the west side of said alley
or road ; thence crossing said alley and with the north side line of the alley
north of and parallel to North Street (as shown on map of North Taze-
well Land Corporation’s Riverside Addition) south seventy-eight degrees
Afteen minutes west two hundred forty feet ; thence south eleven degrees
forty-five minutes east five feet; thence south seventy-eight degrees
Gfteen minutes west three hundred three and one-tenth feet ; thence south.
eighty-eight degrees six minutes west two hundred sixteen and seven-.
tenths feet ; thence south sixty-two degrees fifty-one minutes west ninety-
five and three tenths feet part of the way with said north side line of
said alley and crossing an alley or road to a point on the west side of said
road at a fence; thence north seventy degrees three minutes west two
hundred forty-three and five-tenths feet crossing a lot or parcel of land
property of H. B. Edmons to a fence post at intersection of fences, a
corner to said Edmons, William Moore and M. L. Peery lands (this
portion of the M. L. Peery land now owned by said Edmons) ; thence
south six degrees twenty-four minutes east three hundred seventy-eight
and five-tenths feet with said Peery line, which is partly through said
Edmons land, crossing a twenty foot road and part of the way with the
west side of a fifteen foot alley to a point on the west side of:said alley
(situated three and five-tenths feet south six degrees twenty-four minutes
east from the northeast corner of lot number one in section number. three,
of the Litz Perry addition) ; thence south one degree forty-five minutes
west five hundred sixty-two and six-tenths feet part of the way with the
east side of said lot, and west side of said fifteen foot alley, part of the
way through a thirty-five foot alley and the remainder of the distance on
the east side of a twenty-foot alley to a point on the north line of state
highway (North Tazewell to Bishop) ; thence along the north side of
said highway south eighty-five degrees five minutes east five hundred
sixty-seven and six-tenths feet to a point; thence with a curve to the left
with a radius of four hundred fifty-three and three-tenths feet a distance
of three hundred fifty and four-tenths feet to a point; thence north fifty
degrees thirty-two minutes east one hundred ninety-eight and fifty-six-
hundredths feet to a point; thence with a curve to the right with a radius
of three thousand seven hundred seventy-four and two-tenths feet a
distance of four hundred two and two-tenths feet to a point ; thence north
sixty-four degrees thirty-seven minutes east one hundred thirty-seven and
six-tenths feet to a point on the north side line of said highway ; thence
south thirty-three degrees ten minutes east fifty-four and six-tenths feet
crossing said highway to a point in mill dam; thence south thirty-four
degrees west three hundred forty-nine and two-tenths feet passing out of
said mill dam, crossing the Clinch Valley Division of the Norfolk &
Western Railway Company to a point on the south right of way line to
said railway ; thence along the said south right of way line with a curve
to the right with a radius of one thousand one hundred six feet a distance
of five hundred forty-three and seventy-two-hundredths feet to a point ;
thence north seventy-nine degrees forty-nine minutes east two hundred
sixty-three and nine-tenths feet to a point ; thence with a curve to. the left
with a radius of nine hundred ninety-five and four-tenths feet a distance
of three hundred five and seven-tenths feet to a point ; thence north sixty-
one degrees forty-two minutes east two hundred five and six-tenths feet
to a point on the said south right of way line to said railway, and being
the northwest corner to a lot belonging to R. O. VanDyke ; thence leaving
cH. 109} : ACTS OF ASSEMBLY 131

the said south right of way line and by lines of said VanDyke lot south
twenty-one degrees thirteen minutes east sixty and thirty-one-hundredths
feet; thence south eighty-five degrees thirty-eight minutes east one
hundred eight and two-tenths feet; thence south forty-two degrees
twenty-one minutes east twenty-six and thirteen-hundredths feet ; thence
south forty degrees thirty-nine minutes east thirty-three feet; thence
north fifty degrees four minutes east forty-six and eighteen-hundredths
feet to. a point, the southeast corner of said VanDyke lot and also a corner
to lot or:lands of the heirs of J. S. and A. P. Gillespie; thence leaving
said VanDyke lot and through the lands of said Gillespies south thirty
degrees forty-six minutes east ninety-two and nine-tenths feet to a point
in Town Branch; thence south ten degrees fifty minutes east sixty feet to
a. point ;. thence north seventy-seven degrees twenty minutes east one
hundred three and eight-tenths feet to a point on the west side of Railroad
Avenue; thence along the west side line of said Railroad Avenue south
ten degrees fifty minutes east six hundred forty-six and four-tenths feet
to a fence post; thence south thirty-eight degrees ten minutes east seven
hundred eighty-four and six-tenths feet to a point on or near on the west
line of ‘said avenue; thence north fifty-one degrees fifty minutes east
thirty-five and nine-tenths feet crossing said avenue to a point on or near
on the east side line of said avenue at or near the corner to lands formerly
Tazewell. Court House Improvement Company; thence with and near
with lines ‘of said lands formerly Tazewell Court House Improvement
Company and near as now fenced north one hundred thirty-eight feet to
a point in an old road; thence north thirty-four degrees west two hun-
dred three and thirty-seven-hundredths feet to a point in an old road ;
thence south seventy-nine degrees forty-two minutes east four hundred
thirty and nine-tenths feet to a point at fence; thence north seventy-five
degrees thirty-six minutes east seventy-eight and seventy-seven-hun-
dredths feet to a point at fence; thence north forty-nine degrees four
minutes east eighty-three and seventy-nine-hundredths feet to a‘point at
fence; thence north twelve degrees fifty-six minutes east two hundred
forty and four-tenths feet to a fence post on a rough hillside little to the
northwest of the head of a hollow; thence north eighty-six degrees four-
teen minutes east two hundred: feet part of the way with fence to a
point in a field north forty-eight degrees forty-eight minutes east three
hundred thirty-two feet to a point on top of the ridge between Clinch
River and the New Cemetery; thence north sixty degrees twenty-eight
minutes east one hundred sixty-nine feet to a point on a south hillside ;
thence south seventy-four degrees thirty-two minutes east three hundred
fifty-one and six-tenths feet to a fence post at the intersection of fences on
top of a hill; thence north seventy-seven degrees twenty-five minutes
east two hundred eighteen and seven-tenths feet to a post at the inter-
section of fences at the base of a steep hill and near and southward from
a small spring; thence leaving Tazewell Court. House Improvement
Company lands north thirteen degrees twenty-two minutes west one
thousand eight hundred nine and six-tenths feet to the beginning.

+ +3,. Creation. of council.—There is hereby created a council which
shall have full power and authority, except as herein otherwise stated,
to exercise all the powers conferred upon the town, and to pass all laws
and ordinances relating to its municipal affairs, subject to the Constitu-
tion and general laws of the State and of this Charter.

4. Composition of council and vacancies.—The council shall consist
of a mayor and six other electors of the town, who shall be denominated
the council of said town. The mayor and councilmen shall be elected for
a term of two years at a general election held for that purpose on the
second Tuesday of June, nineteen hundred and forty-three, and the second
Tuesday in June every two years thereafter as provided by law, and the
persons so elected shall enter upon the duties of their office on the first
day of September next succeeding their election, and shall continue in
office until their successors are qualified.

Every person elected a councilman of the town, shall, on or before
the day on which he enters upon the performance of his duties, qualify
by taking and subscribing an oath faithfully to execute the duties of his
office to the best of his judgment; and the person elected mayor shall
take and subscribe the oath prescribed by law for State officers.

Any such oath of councilmen and mayor may be taken before any
officer authorized by law to administer oaths, and shall, when so taken
and subscribed, be forthwith returned to the recorder of the town, who
shall enter the same on record on the minute Book of the Council.

The councilmen shall judge of the election, qualification and returns
of its members; may fine them for disorderly behavior, and, with the
concurrence of two-thirds of its membership expel a member. If any
person returned be adjudged disqualified, or be expelled, a new election
to fill the vacancy shall be held in the town on such date as the council
may prescribe, except that where there shall be vacancies in the majority
of the council, the Circuit Court of Tazewell County, or the judge thereof
in vacation, shall fill such vacancies. Any vacancy occurring otherwise
during the term for which any of the said persons have been elected may
be filled by the council by the appointment of anyone eligible for such
office. A vacancy in the office of the mayor may be filled by the council
from the electors of said town.

5. Qualification of mayor and councilmen.—Any person qualified
to vote in the town in the election in which he offers shall be eligible to
the office of mayor or councilman.

6. Limitations on powers and disqualifications——Any member of
the council who shall have been convicted of a felony while in office shall
forfeit his office.

Neither the mayor nor any member of the council shall be interested
directly or indirectly in the profits of any contract of work, or be finan-
cially interested directly or indirectly, in the sale to the town of any land,
materials, supplies, or services (other than official services). Any member
of the council offending against the provisions of this section shall be
fined not more than five hundred ($500.00) dollars and shall forfeit his
office. The provisions of this section shall not apply however, if the
council shall declare by unanimous vote of the members thereof, that the
best interests of the town are to be served despite such personal interest,
directly or indirectly. :
cH. 109} ACTS OF ASSEMBLY 133

7. Organization and meetings of council—At eight o’clock post
meridian on the first day of September following a regular municipal
election, or if such day be a Sunday or a legal holiday, then on the day
following, the council shall meet at the usual place for holding its meet-
ings, at which time the newly elected mayor and councilmen, after first
having taken the oaths prescribed by law, shall assume the duties of their
offices. Thereafter the council shall meet at such times as may be pre-
scribed by ordinance or resolution. The mayor or any two members of
the council may call special meetings of the council at any time after
giving at least twelve hours written notice to the other members of the
purpose, place, and time of such special meeting. Special meetings may
also be held at any time without notice, provided all members of the
council attend. :

A majority of all members shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller
number may adjourn from time to time, and compel the attendance of
absentees. |

The council shall fix the compensation of its members and of all
other officers and/or agents and employees of the town.

8. Powers of mayor.—The mayor shall be the chief executive
officer of the town. He shall control the police of the town, and may
appoint special police officers when ‘he deems it necessary. of

All by-laws and ordinances, before they become valid and operative,
shall have his signature and he shall have the veto power, but any by-
law or ordinance may be enacted over the mayor’s veto by a vote o
two-thirds of the members of the council. i

In the absence or disability of the mayor, his duties shall be per-
formed by such member of the council as may be designated and ap-
pointed by the council. :
In addition to the powers and duties herein specifically enumerated,
the mayor shall be vested with all such other powers and charged with
all such other duties, not in conflict herewith, as are provided by the
Constitution and general laws of the State. x

9, Town recorder.—There shall be a recorder for said town, who
shall have the same qualifications, be elected at the same time, and in the
Same manner, and for the same term as the councilmen of the said town.

It shall be the duty of the recorder to attend and keep a record of
the meetings of the council, and perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by law or by the council of the town. ,

10. The town sergeant.—There shall be a sergeant for said town
who shall be elected by the council, who shall serve at the will and
pleasure of the council. ,

The sergeant shall be the chief police officer of the town and shall
perform such duties and be invested with such authority as is provided
by the general law for sergeants of towns, and shall perform such other
duties and be invested with such other authority as the council may
prescribe. , . oO aL

10-A. Other officers——The council may create, appoint, or elect
such other officers, assessors, attorneys, or agents, departments, bodies,
134 ACTS OF: ASSEMBLY [vA., 1942

or boards for the town as may be deemed necessary or proper, and may
fix their compensation and-define their duties.

_ 11. Powers of the town.—In addition to the powers mentioned in
section one hereof, the said Town of North Tazewell shall have the
following powers:

First: 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, and in such manner as said council shall deem
expedient, in accordance with the Constitution of this State and the
United States, and of the general laws of the State in pursuance thereof;
provided, however, that it shall impose no tax on the bonds of said town.

Second: To impose special or local assessments for local improve-
ments and enforce payment thereof, subject, however, to such limitations
prescribed by the Constitution of Virginia as may be in force at the time
of the imposition of such special or local assessments.

Third: ‘To contract debts, borrow money, and make and issue
evidence of indebtedness.

Fourth: To expend the money of the town for all lawful purposes.

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

Sixth: To own, operate, and maintain water works and to acquire
within or without said town such water lines, property rights, and
riparian rights as the council of said town may deem necessary for the
purpose of providing an adequate water supply for said town, and of
piping or conducting the same into the town; to lay all necessary mains
and service lines, either within or without the corporate limits of said town
with which to distribute said water, and to charge and collect water rents
therefor; to erect and maintain all necessary dams, :pumping stations,
filter plants, or 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 to do all things necessary
in order to provide an adequate public water system for the town.

Seventh: To establish, construct, and maintain sanitary sewers,
sewer lines, sewerage disposal plants and systems, and to require the
owners Or occupiers of real estate within the corporate limits of the
town, which may front or abut on the line of any such sewer system to
make connections therewith, and to use such sewer facilities as may be
furnished by the town, under such ordinances and regulations as the
council may deem necessary or proper for the proper disposal of sewer-
age ‘and to improve and secure sanitary. conditions ; to charge, assess and
collect reasonable fees, rentals, or assessments or costs of service for
connecting with and using such sewers, and to make regulations for the
use, enjoyment, protection, and care of such sewers and sewer systems;
and the power to enforce the observance of all such ordinances and regu-
lations by the imposition and collection of fines and penalties for non-
compliance thereof, as other fines and penalties for ‘violation of the
ordinances of the town are collected. : , ant
_ Eighth: In every case where a street, alley, park or public property
of the town has been, or shall be, occupied or encroached upon by.a
fence, building, porch, projection, or otherwise, without first having
obtained consent thereto from the town council or a franchise therefor,
such occupancy or encroachment sha‘l be deemed a nuisance, and the
owner or occupant of the premises encroaching, upon conviction of :so
doing, shall be fined not less than five ($5.00) nor more than fifty
($50.00) dollars, and each day’s continuance of the said occupancy or
encroachment shall constitute a separate offense, such fine to be recovered
in the name of the town and for its use, and the town council may require
the owner of the premises encroaching, if known, or if not known, the
occupant thereof, to remove the encroachment within a reasonable time,
and if such removal be not made within the time prescribed by the council,
to cause the encroachment to be removed, and collect from the owner, or
if the owner be not known, the occupant, all reasonable charges therefor
with costs, by the same process that they are authorized by law to collect
taxes. | , 7 SE ay
No encroachment upon any street or alley, however long continued,
shall'constitute any adverse possession to, or confer any rights upon the
person claiming thereunder, as against the town. , : at
-- Ninth: To issue bonds in such manner and for such purposes as
are provided in Chapter one hundred twenty-two of the Code of Virginia.
Tenth: To inspect, test, measure, and weigh any commodity or
commodities or articles of consumption for use within the town; and to
establish, regulate, license, and inspect weights, meters, measures. and
scales. | : os | , . ue
‘Eleventh: To license and regulate the holding and location of
shows, circuses, public exhibitions, carnivals, and other similar shows or
fairs, or prohibit the holding of the same, or any of them, within the
town or within one mile thereof. ! : a
Twelfth: To require every owner of motor vehicles residing in
the said town, on a date to be designated by the council, to annually
register such motor vehicles and to obtain a license to operate the same
by making application to the treasurer of the said town, or such other
person as may be designated by the council of the said town to issue said
license and to require the said owner to pay an annual license fee therefor
to be fixed by the council; provided that the said license fee shall not
exceed the amount charged by the State on the said machine. _
Thirteenth: To construct, maintain, regulate and operate public
improvements of all kinds, including municipal and other buildings,
armories, sewerage disposal plants, jails, comfort stations, markets, and
all buildings and structures necessary or appropriate for the use and
proper operation of the various departments of the town; and to acquire
by condemnation or otherwise, all lands, riparian and other rights, and
easements necessary for such improvements, or any of them; either
within or without the town, and to construct, maintain, and aid therein
roads and bridges to any property owned by the said town and situated
beyond the corporate limits thereof, and to acquire land necessary for
the aforesaid purposes, by condemnation or otherwise. ,

Fourteenth: To charge and to collect fees for permits to use public
facilities and for public services and privileges. The said town shall have
the power and right to charge a different rate for any service rendered
or convenience furnished to citizens without the corporate limits from
i rates charged for similar service to citizens within the corporate
limits. _ , a

Fifteenth: To compel the abatement and removal 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, or other premises within the town, to be kept clean and
sanitary and free from stagnant water, weeds, filth and unsightly deposits,
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 regu-
late, or prevent slaughter houses or other noisome or offensive business
within the said town, the keeping of hogs or other animals, poultry ot
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 and constructed ;
to regulate the location, construction, operation, and maintenance of bill-
boards, signs, advertising, and generally to define, prohibit, abate, sup-
press, and prevent all things detrimental to the health, morals, aesthetic,
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 and snow. st i -

Sixteenth: To provide for regular and safe construction of houses
in the town for the future, and to provide a building code for the town,
to provide setback lines on the streets beyond which no building may be
constructed, to require the standard of all dwelling houses to be main-
tained in residential sections in keeping with the majority of residences
therein, and to require the standard of all business houses to be. main-
tained in business sections in keeping with the majority of the business
houses therein. a ake .

Seventeenth: To prevent any person having no. visible means of
support, paupers, and persons who may be dangerous to the peace and
safety 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. oti Re. _

Eighteenth: 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
cH. 109] ACTS OF ASSEMBLY 137

town; and to expel therefrom persons guilty of such conduct who have
not resided therein as much as one year. : oe

Nineteenth: To offer and pay rewards for the apprehension and
conviction of criminals. |

Twentieth: To enjoin and restrain the violation of any town ordi-
nance or ordinances, although a penalty is provided upon conviction of
such violation. 3 | , ti

Twenty-first: In so far as not prohibited by general law, to pass
and enforce all by-laws, rules, regulations and ordinances 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 powers, authority, ca-
pacity, or jurisdiction, which is or shall be granted to or vested in said
town, or in the council, court, or officers thereof, or which may be neces-
sarily incident to a municipal corporation.

TI'wenty-second: To do all things whatsoever necessary or expedi-
ent and lawful to be done for promoting or maintaining the general
welfare, comfort, education, morals, peace, government, health, trade,
commerce, or industries of the town, or its inhabitants. ,

Twenty-third: To prescribe any penalty for the violation of any
town ordinance, rule, or regulation or of any provision of this charter,
not exceeding five hundred dollars fine or twelve months’ imprisonment
in jail, or both. - ,

Twenty-fourth: To own, operate and maintain electric light works,
either within or without the corporate limits of the town and to supply
electricity whether the same be generated or purchased by said town, to
its customers and consumers both without and within the corporate
limits of said town, at such price and upon such terms as it may pre-
scribe, and to that end it may contract and purchase electricity from the
owners thereof upon such terms as it may deem expedient. .

Twenty-fifth: To exercise the power of eminent domain within
this State with respect to lands and machinery, equipment or improve-
ments thereon, for any lawful purpose of the said town. |

Twenty-sixth: Except when prohibited by general law, the town
may levy a tax or a license on any person, firm or corporation pursuing or
conducting any trade, business, profession, occupation, employment or
calling whatsoever within the boundaries of the town, whether a license
may be required therefor by the State or not, and may provide penalties
for any violation thereof. ae

Twenty-seventh: A lien shall exist on all real estate within the
corporate limits for taxes, levies, and assessments in favor of the town,
together with all penalties and interest due thereon, assessed thereon
from the commencement of the year for which the same were assessed
and the procedure for collecting the 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 for the State, to the sanie
extent as if the provisions of said general law were herein set out at
length. The said town 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 law.

Twenty-eighth: To extinguish and prevent fires, and to establish,
regulate and control a fire department or division, to regulate the size,
height, materials, and construction of buildings, fences, walls, retaining
walls, and other structures hereafter erected in such a manner as the
public safety and convenience may require; to remove and require to be
removed or reconstructed any building, structure, or addition thereto,
which by reason of dilapidation, defect of structure, or other cause may
be dangerous to life or property, or which may be erected contrary to
law; to establish and designate from time to time fire limits, within
which limits wooden buildings shall not be constructed, added to, en-
larged, or repaired and to direct that any or all buildings within such
limits sha'l be constructed of stone, natural or artificial, concrete, brick,
iron, or other fireproof material; to construct dams across any of the
streams within said town for the purpose of providing an adequate
suipply of water with which to combat fires, and to prohibit the release of
the water contained in such dams within said town as may be now owned
or hereafter constructed by others, in times of drouth, in order to provide
an adequate supply of water with which to combat fires; and to enact
such laws as may be necessary to provide for the protection of the
citizens and property of the town from fire, or for securing the safety of
persons from fires in hal!s and buildings used for public assemblies.

Twenty-ninth: To regulate the keeping of gun powder, nitro-
glycerin, or other explosive or combustible substances; and to regulate
or prohibit the exhibition or possession of fireworks, the discharge of
fire arms, and the making of bonfires within the said town.

Thirtieth: To prohibit from and punish minors for frequenting,
playing in, and loitering in any public pool room, billiard parlor, or
bowling alley, and to punish any proprietor or agent thereof for permitting
same. ,

~ Thirty-first: Except when prohibited by general law, to prohibit
any person, firm, or corporation from pursuing or conducting any trade,.
business, profession, occupation, employment, or calling within the
bouridaries of the town on the Sabbath. ,

12. The present mayor and council, and other officers of the Town
of North Tazewell shall continue in office until the expiration of the term
for which they were respectively elected. a

13. 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, said judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder
of said act, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence,
paragraph, or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which
said judgment shall have been rendered. _

~ 14. All contracts and obligations heretofore or hereafter made by
the Town of North Tazewell, not inconsistent with this Charter or the
Constitution or the general laws of the State, shall be, and are hereby
declared to be valid and legal ; and all ordinances, rules or regulations now
in force in said town, not inconsistent with this Charter, the Constitution
or the general laws of this State shall be and remain in force until altered,
amended, or repealed by the council of the town.

15. All acts or parts of acts in conflict with this Charter are hereby
repealed in so far as they affect the provisions of this act, and all former
acts chartering or amending the Charter of the Town of N orth Tazewell
are hereby repealed.