CHAPTER 235

An Act to provide a new charter for the Town of Rural Retreat, in the
county of Wythe; and to repeal prior charters of the town and certain

acts.
[H 27]
Approved March 18, 1954

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. The inhabitants of the territory embraced within the present
limits of the Town of Rural Retreat, in Wythe County, Virginia, as
hereinafter defined, or as the same may be hereafter altered and estab-
lished by law, shall constitute and continue a body politic and corporate
to be known and designated as the Town of Rural Retreat, 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 laws
of the Commonwealth of Virginia as fully and as completely as though said
powers were specifically enumerated herein, and no enumeration of par-
ticular powers herein shall be held to be exclusive.

§ 2. The territory embraced within the present limits of the Town
of Rural Retreat is described by metes and bounds in an order of incor-
poration of the town entered by the Circuit Court of Wythe County, Vir-
ginia, on the 24th day of July, 1911, as follows: Beginning at the southeast
corner of Z. M. Neff’s lot, thence, N 89° W 172 poles to a stake in W. S.
Wampler’s lot; thence, N 114° W 49 poles crossing Luther Street and
the Norfolk & Western Railway to the north side of alley at Repass
Umberger’s; thence, with said alley S 89° E 35 poles to southwest corner
of John Buck’s yard; thence, N 114° W 15 poles to a stake northwest of
John Buck’s barn; thence, S 89° E 57 poles to a stake in W. E. Richmond’s
lot near the northwest corner of W. A. Richmond’s yard; thence N 114°
W 56 poles to a point west of W. E. Brown’s barn; thence N 45° E 57
poles crossing lots of W. E. Brown, W. G. Howe, Chas. Coffee and Henry
Buck and to a stake on south side of road leading to old Mt. Airy; thence
crossing south side of lots belonging to Captain Davis, and Frank Hel-
dreth; S 61° E 51 poles to a stake on east side of road leading to Black
Lick; thence, with said road S 24° W 17 poles; thence, S 64° E 14%
poles to a stake on east side of Main Street; thence, S 14° E 12 poles at
northeast corner of W. S. Lindsay’s barn; thence, S 89° E 118 poles to a
stake in Boyd Davis’ lot; thence, crossing Buck Street and with the east
side of Public School lot crossing Norfolk & Western Railway S 8° W 107
poles to a stake in A. B. Hendrick’s field; thence, crossing Dr. Eversole’s lot
N 89° W 44 poles to a stake on east side of Eversole Street; thence, N 60°
W 24 poles to a stake at corner of Dr. Phipps and Robert Huddle N 89°
W 5114 poles to a stake on east side of Main Street near southwest corner
of Catron lot; thence, with Main Street S 2° W 15% poles to the
beginning.
272 ACTS OF ASSEMBLY [vA., 1954

§ 8. The government of the town of Rural Retreat shall be vested
in a mayor and a body to be known as the council of the town of Rural
Retreat, which council shall consist of six members, all of whom, as well
as the mayor, shall be residents and qualified voters of the town.

§ 4. The mayor shall be elected, in the manner provided by law,
at the regular municipal election to be held on the second Tuesday in June,
1954, and every four years thereafter, for a term of four years beginning
on the first day of September next following his election.

§ 5. The council shall be elected, in the manner provided by law.
as follows: At the regular municipal election to be held on the second
Tuesday in June, 1954, all six members shall be elected. The three mem-
bers receiving the highest number of votes in said election shall serve as
members of the council for terms of four years each. The remaining
three members shall serve for terms of two years each. The terms
of all six councilmen shall commence on the first day of September next
following their election. At the regular municipal election to be held on
the second Tuesday in June, 1956, and every four years thereafter, three
councilmen shall be elected each for a term of four years beginning on
the first day of September next following their election. At the regular
municipal election to be held on the second Tuesday in June, 1958, and
every four years thereafter, three councilmen shall be elected each for a
term of four years beginning on the first day of September next follow-
ing their election.

§ 6. The mayor and each councilman elected as hereinabove pro-
vided shall serve for the term stated or until his successor shall have
been elected and qualified.

The council shall be a continuing body and no measure pending
before such body shall abate or be discontinued by reason of expiration
of term of office or removal of any of its members. Vacancies in the
council shall be filled for the unexpired term by a majority vote of the
remaining members of the council. Vacancies in the office of mayor shall
be filled for the unexpired term by a majority vote of the members of the
council. The present mayor and council shall continue in office until the
expiration of the terms for which they were respectively elected.

§ 8. The council shall, by ordinance, fix the time for their regular
meetings. Special meetings shall be called by the clerk of the council
upon request of the mayor or any three councilmen.

Reasonable notice of each special meeting shall be given each mem-
ber of the council. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting
except that for which the special meeting is called, except by a two-thirds
vote of all of the members of the council. The mayor shall preside over
the meetings of the council but he shall vote only in the event of a tie.

§ 9. The council shall also elect one of its members as Vice-Mayor
who shall perform the duties and functions of the Mayor when he is
absent or otherwise unable to perform.

§ 10. In addition to their duties, the Mayor, Vice-Mayor and all
members of the council shall be ex officio conservators of the peace within
the town and within one mile of the corporate limits thereof.

§ 11. The Mayor shall be the official head of the government of the
town and shall perform such services as he may be directed by the council
to perform or as may be provided by law or as may be neecssary or
proper, and he and the councilmen shall receive such compensation as the
council may provide.

The Mayor, or, in his absence or inability to perform, the
Vice-Mayor, shall have jurisdiction for the trial of all violations of all
ordinances of the Town of Rural Retreat, and collection of town taxes
or assessments, or any other debts due and owing to said town, and to
issue warants and summons witnesses, to issue capiases, to fix bail, take
bonds and pass upon the qualifications of sureties thereto, to issue search
warrants, and to perform all other duties and proper functions as such
trial officer of the town; provided a resolution is adopted by a majority
of the members of the council establishing such right and authority in
this connection.

§ 13. The council shall appoint a clerk, a treasurer, a town sergeant
and deputies, and such other officers and employees as the council may
deem necessary or proper, including a town manager or town engineer
all of whom shall hold office or employment at and during the pleasure
of the council and shall qualify for their respective offices as required
by law and shall furnish such bonds as may be required by the council.
Officers and employees so appointed by the council, shall perform such
services, in addition to the services herein enumerated, and shall receive
such compensation as the council may provide.

§ 14. All contracts and obligations heretofore made by the council
of the town of Rural Retreat, while in office, not inconsistent with this
charter, or the Constitution, or the general laws of this State shall be,
and are hereby declared to be, valid and legal.

§ 15. The administrative and executive powers of the town, and
including the power of appointment of officers and employees, are vested
in the town council.

§ 16. The town council and the Mayor shall be responsible for the
proper administration of all the general law and all ordinances or reso-
lutions of the council and shall see that all laws and ordinances are en-
forced; shall see that all terms and conditions imposed in favor of the
town or its inhabitants in any public utility franchise or any contract
are faithfully kept and performed; shall exercise supervision and control
over all departments and divisions of the town government and shall
have general supervision over all public improvements, works, and under-
takings; shall prepare and adopt the annual budget; shall make all such
contracts in behalf of the town as may be authorized by this charter
or by general law; shall make all necessary and proper purchases for
the town; and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by
this charter or which are now, or may hereafter be, conferred upon
them under the laws of Virginia.

The town sergeant shall have the same powers and perform
the duties both in civil and criminal cases prescribed by the State law
for sergeants of towns and he shall be subject to like penalities. He shall
also perform such duties in relation to streets and water works of the
town and such other duties as may be required of him by the council.
He shall especially see that all ordinances are observed, and he shall
report to the mayor any violation of the same, and for any violation
occurring in his presence he may arrest for the same forthwith.

§ 18. The treasurer shall be the collector and custodian, except as
otherwise ordered by the council, of all town taxes, levies, licenses and
of all revenue and other moneys of the town from water or any other
source, and shall disburse the same as ordered by the council. He shall
have as to town taxes, levies, licenses and revenues all the powers vested
by the State law in county and city treasurers, and shall be subject to
like penalties. He shall make off all tax tickets and water tickets, and
shall keep such books of account and records and perform all such duties
in relation to the collection and disbursement of the moneys of the town
as may be prescribed by the council, and he shall make his settlements
at the time and in the manner prescribed by the council.

§ 19. The town clerk shall attend all meetings of the council, keep
its minutes, preserve and keep on file all papers pertaining to the busi-
ness of the town; keep such books of account and any and all records
which the council may require to be kept; perform the duties of com-
missioner of the revenue for the town, extend assessments, make off and
deliver to the treasurer annually at such time as the council may pre-
scribe the land and property book or books of the town, assess all license
taxes required by the ordinances and report such assessments to the
treasurer for collection; keep such records of delinquent taxes as may he
required by the council; keep such records concerning the water works
of the town as may be required by the council; issue permits to water
takers; keep a complete record of all water takers and of all contracts
and permits; furnish to the treasurer, at such times as the council may
prescribe, a list of such water takers, with rates to be paid by each, and
amount due or to be paid whether by meter or flat rate; and perform
such other and further duties as clerk of the council, as commissioner
of the revenue, and in respect to the water works, as may from time
to time be prescribed by the council.

§ 20. In addition to the powers elsewhere enumerated and those
conferred by general law, the town shall have the powers. enumerated
in §§ 20.1 to 20.32, inclusive:

§ 20.1. To raise annually, by levy of taxes, and assessments in the
said town, on all such property, real and personal, and every interest
therein, including remainders and reversions, as is now or may be sub-
ject to taxation by towns under the laws of this Commonwealth, such
sums of money as the council thereof shall deem necessary for the pur-
pose of the said town, in such manner as the said council shall deem
expedient in accordance with the Constitution of this State and of the
United States; provided, however, that it shall impose no taxes on the
bonds of the said town.

§ 20.2. To impose special or local assessments for local improve-
ments and to force payment thereof, subject to such limitations pre-
scribed by the Constitution and laws as may be in force at the time of
the imposition of such special or local assessments.

2 To own, operate and maintain water works and to acquire
in any lawful manner in any county of the State, such water, lands, prop-
erty rights, and riparian rights as the council of the said town may deem
necessary for the purpose of providing an adequate supply to the said
town and of piping and conducting the same; to lay, erect and maintain
all necessary mains and service lines, either within or without the cor-
porate limits of the said town, for the distribution of water to its customers
and consumers, both within and without the corporate limits of the said
town and to charge and collect water rents therefor; to erect and main-
tain 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 control
over all land 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.

§ 20.4 (a) The town may, in the name of and for the use of the
town, contract debts and make and issue, or cause to be made and issued
as evidence thereof, bonds, notes or other obligations, within the limita-
tions prescribed by the Constitution, and in accordance with the pro-
visions of law concerning bond issues by towns, upon the credit of the
town, or solely upon the credit of specific property owned by the town,
or solely upon the credit of income derived from property used in con-
nection with any public utility owned and operated by the town.

(b) Pending the issuance and sale of any bonds, notes or other obli-
gations by this act authorized, or in anticipation of the receipt of taxes
and revenues of the current fiscal year, it shall be lawful for the town to
borrow money temporarily and to issue notes or other evidences of indebt-
edness therefor, within the limits fixed by the Constitution of Virginia or
to use current funds to be ultimately repaid from the proceeds of the said
bonds, notes or other obligations or from the town taxes and revenues,
as the case may be.

§ 20.5. To expend the money of the town for all lawful purposes.

§ 20.6. To collect and dispose of sewage, offal, ashes, garbage,
carcasses of dead animals and other refuse, and to make reasonable
charges therefor; to acquire and operate reduction or any other plants
for the utilization or destruction of such materials, or any of them; to
require or regulate the collection and disposal thereof.

§ 20.7. To acquire by purchase, gift, devise, condemnation or other-
wise property, real or personal, or any estate therein within the town,
for any of the purpcses 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 the town, provided the town shall
not take by condemnation proceedings, under this or any other section
of this charter, any property belonging to any corporation possessing the
power of eminent domain, unless, after hearing all parties in interest,
the State Corporation Commission shall certify that a public necessity or
that an essential public convenience shall so require, and shall give its
permission thereto.

§ 20.8. To license and regulate the holding and location of shows,
circuses, public exhibitions, carnivals, and other similar shows or fairs
within the town, or prohibit the holding of the same, or any of them
within the town or within one mile of the corporate limits thereof.

§ 20.9. To inspect, test, measure and weigh any commodity or com-
modities, or articles of consumption for use within the town; and to
establish, regulate, license and inspect weights, meters, measures and

es.

§ 20.10. To require every resident of the town who shall own, or
have in his custody or under his control, a vehicle of any kind which shall
be operated on the streets, alleys, or public ways of the town, and every
person not a resident of the town, who shall habitually operate on the
streets, alleys, or public ways of the town a vehicle of any kind for the
purpose of pickup or delivery in connection with the conduct of a busi-
ness, other than a transportation business, wherever located, to annually
register such vehicles on a date to be designated by the council and to
obtain a license to operate the same by making application to the treas-
urer of the town, or such other person as may be designated by the
council of the said town, to require the said owner or custodian to pay an
annual license fee therefor to he fixed by the council, provided that the
said license fee shall not exceed the amount charged by the State on the
said vehicle, and to prohibit the use of streets, alleys, or public ways of
the town without such license. No such license shall be required of a
nonresident of the town who shall use a vehicle exclusively for his per-
sonal transportation to and from a place of business within the town.

§ 20.11. To construct, establish, purchase, or to otherwise acquire,
maintain, regulate and operate public utilities and facilities of all kinds,
including bus lines, transportation systems, cemeteries, municipal and other
buildings, armories, sewage disposal plants, jails, comfort stations, mar-
kets, 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, within
the town, and to construct, maintain or aid therein, roads and bridges
to any property owned by the said town and situate beyond the corporate
limits thereof, and to acquire land necessary for the aforesaid by con-
demnation or otherwise.

§ 20.12. To acquire, establish, enter, open, widen, extend, grade,
improve, construct, maintain and clean public highways, streets, sidewalks,
boulevards, parkways, and alleys, and to alter, vacate, or close the same;
to establish and maintain parks, golf courses, playgrounds, and public
grounds, to keep them lighted and in good order; to construct, maintain
and operate bridges, viaducts, subways, tunnels, sewers and drains and to
regulate the use of all such highways, parks, public grounds and works;
to plant and maintain or remove shade trees along the streets and upon
such public grounds; to prevent the obstruction of such streets and high-
ways; to regulate the operation and speed of cars, and vehicles upon said
streets and highways, within the town and for a distance of one mile from
the limits thereof; and to do all other things whatsoever adapted to make
said streets and highways safe, convenient and attractive.

20.18. To construct in such parks, playgrounds, and public
grounds, as it may maintain, or upon any town property, stadiums, swim-
ming pools, gymnasia, and recreation or amusement buildings, structures,
or inclosures of every character, refreshment stands, restaurants, et cetera;
to charge admissions for use of the same, and to rent out or lease the
privileges of construction or using such stadiums, swimming pools, recrea-
tion or amusement buildings, structures, or inclosures of every character,
refreshment stands, or restaurants, et cetera.

§ 20.14. To establish, impose, and enforce the collection of water,
and sewage rates, and rates and charges for public utilities, or other
services, products, or conveniences, operated, rented or furnished by the
town; and to assess, or cause to be assessed, after reasonable notice to the
owner or owners, water and sewage rates and charges directly against the
owner or owners of the buildings or against the proper tenant or tenants;
and in event such rates and charges shall be assessed against a tenant then
the council may, by ordinance, require of such tenant a deposit of such
reasonable amount as it may by such ordinance prescribe before furnishing
such service to such tenant.

§ 20.15. To establish, construct, and maintain sanitary sewers, sewer
lines and systems, and to require the abutting property owners to connect
therewith and to establish, construct, maintain and operate sewage disposal
plants, and to acquire by condemnation or otherwise, within the town,
all lands, rights of way, riparian and other rights, and easements
necessary for the purposes aforesaid, and to charge, assess, and collect
reasonable fees, rentals, assessments or costs of service for connection with
and using the same.

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

§ 20.17. Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and general
laws of Virginia and this charter, to grant franchises for public utilities;
provided, however, the town shall at any time have the power to contract
for, own, operate, manage, sell, encumber or otherwise dispose of, either
within or without the town any and all public utilities for the town and
to sell the services thereof.

§ 20.18. 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 the
rates charged for similar service to citizens within the corporate limits.

§ 20.19. 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 motiun 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 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 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 and constructed; to regulate the
location, construction, operation, and maintenance of billboards, signs,
advertising, and generally to define, prohibit, abate, suppress and prevent
all things detrimental to the health, morals, safety, convenience and wel-
fare 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.

§ 20.20. To extinguish and prevent fires, to abate fire hazards, and
to establish, regulate and control a fire department or divisions, to regulate
the size, height, materials 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, added to,
enlarged or repaired and to direct that any or all future buildings within
such limits shall be constructed of stone, natural or artificial, concrete,
brick, iron or other fireproof materials; and may enact stringent and
efficient laws for securing the safety of persons from fires in halls and
buildings, used for public assemblies, entertainments or amusements.

§ 20.21. To direct the location of all buildings for storing explosives
or combustible substances; to regulate the sale and use of gun powder,
nitroglycerin, fireworks, gasoline, kerosene, oil or other like materials;
to regulate the exhibition of fireworks, the discharge of fire arms, and the
making of bonfires in the streets and yards.

§ 20.22. To provide for regular and safe construction of houses in
the town for the future, and to provide a building code and zoning ordi-
nance or ordinances for the town, to provide set back lines on the streets
beyond which no building may be constructed, to require the standard of
all dwelling houses be maintained in residential section in keeping with
the majority of residences therein and to require the standard of all
business houses be maintained in business sections in keeping with the
majority of the business houses therein.

§ 20.238. To provide for the preservation of the general] health of
the inhabitants of said town, make regulations to secure the same, inspect
all foodstuffs and prevent the introduction and sale in said town of any
articles or thing intended for human consumption, which is adulterated,
impure or otherwise dangerous to health, and to condemn, seize and
destroy or otherwise dispose of any such article or thing without liability
to the owner thereof; to prevent the introduction or spread of contagious
or infectious diseases, and prevent and suppress disease generally; to
provide and regulate hospitals within or without the town limits, and if
necessary to the suppression of disease, to enforce the removal of persons
afflicted with contagious or infectious diseases to hospitals provided for
them; to construct and maintain or to aid in the construction and main-
tenance of a hospital or hospitals for the use of the people of the town; to
provide for the organization of a department or bureau of health, to have
the powers of a board of health for said town, with the authority necessary
for the prompt and efficient performance of the duties, with the power to
invest any or all the officials or employees of such department of health
with such powers as the police officers of the town have, to establish
quarantine ground within or without the town, and establish such quaran-
tine regulations against infectious and contagious diseases as the council
may see fit, subject to the laws of the State and of the United States; and
to provide for a bureau of vital statistics and require physicians, mid-
wives or parents to make reports thereto.

§ 20.24. To provide and maintain, either within or without the
town, charitable, recreative, curative, corrective, detentive, or penal
institutions.

§ 20.25. To prevent fowls and animals from being kept in or from
running at large in the town, and to subject the owners to such regula-
tions and the owner or owners thereof to such penalties as the council
may provide.

§ 20.26. To prevent the riding or driving of horses or other animals
at an improper speed; to prevent the flying of kites, throwing of stones,
or engaging in any sort of employment in the public streets which is
dangerous or annoying to passersby, and to prohibit and punish the abuse
of animals.

§ 20.27. In so far as not prohibited by general law to control, regu-
late, limit and restrict the operation of motor vehicles carrying passengers
for hire upon the streets or alleys of the town; to regulate the use of auto-
mobiles and other automotive vehicles upon the streets; to regulate the
routes in and through the town to be used by motor vehicle carriers
operating in and through said town and to prescribe different routes for
different carriers; to prohibit the use of certain streets by motor trucks;
and generally to prescribe such regulations respecting motor traffic therein
as may be necessary for the general welfare.

§ 20.28. To acquire, by condemnation, purchase or otherwise, pru-
vide for, maintain, operate and protect aircraft landing fields within the
corporate limits of the town.

§ 20.29. To exercise full police powers and establish and maintain
a department or division of police.

§ 20.30. To restrain and punish drunkards, vagrants and street
beggars, to prevent and quell riots, disturbances and disorderly assem-
blages; 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.

To make and enforce ordinances, in so far as not prohibited
by the general laws of this State, to regulate, control, license and/or tax
the manufacture, bottling, sale, distribution, transportation, handling,
advertising, possession, dispensing, drinking and use of alcohol, brandy,
rum, whiskey, gin, wine, beer, lager beer, ale, porter, stout, and all liquids,
beverages and articles containing alcohol by distillation, fermentation or
otherwise.

§ 20.382. To do all things whatsoever necessary or expedient and
lawful 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.

§ 21. A lien shall exist on all real estate, and on each and every
interest therein, whether by way of remainder, reversion or otherwise,
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 taxes accruing during the existence of a life estate, or
estate for a term of years, or any estate other than a fee simple estate,
shall constitute a lien upon any remainder, reversion or other interest
limited after the precedent particular estate. -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 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 law.

§ 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 part of the act
directly involved in the controversy in which said judgment shall have been
rendered.

§ 23. This act may be referred to or cited as the Rural Retreat
Charter of nineteen hundred and fifty-four.

2. All ordinances and resolutions of the town and all] rules, regulations,
and orders heretofore legally made by any department, board, committee,
or officer of the town, in force at the effective date of this charter, in so far
as they are not inconsistent herewith, shall remain in full force and effect
until amended or repealed by the Council of the Town of Rural Retreat.
3. All prior charters of the Town of Rural Retreat, and all amendments
thereof, or of any part thereof, and all other acts and parts of acts in
conflict with the provisions of this act, in so far as the charter provided
by this act is affected thereby, are hereby repealed.

4. An emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.