CHAPTER 112

AN ACT to amend and reenact § 838-255.27 of the Code of Virginia, which
created the “Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike Authority’, so as to fix
the terms of office of the board of directors of the Authority. CH 197]

Approved February 23, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 33-255.27 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted
as follows:

§ 33-255.27. There is hereby created and constituted a political sub-
division of the Commonwealth to be known as “The Richmond-Petersburg
Turnpike Authority”. The exercise by the Authority of the powers con-
ferred by this article in the construction, operation and maintenance of
the turnpike project authorized by this article shall be deemed and held
to be the performance of an essential governmental function.

The Authority shall be governed by a board of directors consisting
of seven members, each of whom shall be appointed by the Governor. One
member shall be a resident of the county of Dinwiddie, one member shall
be a resident of the city of Petersburg, one member shall be a resident of
the city of Colonial Heights, one member shall be a resident of the county
of Chesterfield, one member shall be a resident of the city of Richmond,
one member shall be a resident of the county of Henrico, and one member
shall be a resident of the State at large who, unless a member of the State
Highway Commission, shall reside in a political subdivision other than the
cities of Richmond, Colonial Heights or Petersburg, or the counties of
Henrico, Chesterfield or Dinwiddie. Two of the first members of the board
appointed by the Governor shall be appointed for terms of one year, two
for terms of two years, two for terms of three years, and one for a term
of four years from the date of their appointment; and thereafter the
members of the board shall be appointed for terms of four years. Vacan-
cies in the membership of the board shall be filled by appointment of the
114 ACTS OF ASSEMBLY [vA., 1956

Governor for the unexpired portion of the term. No person shall be
eligible to serve for more than two successive terms; provided that per-
sons heretofore or hereafter appointed to fill a vacancy, or who were
initially appointed for terms of three years or less, may be appointed for
two additional four year terms. Members of the board shall be subject to
removal from office in like manner as are State, county, town and district
officers under the provisions of §§ 15-500 to 15-503 of the Code of Vir-
ginia, provided that the Hustings Court of the city of Richmond shall
have exclusive jurisdiction of all proceedings for such removal. Imme-
diately after such appointment, the directors shall enter upon the per-
formance of their duties. The board shall annually elect one of its members
as chairman and another as vice-chairman, and shall also elect annually
a secretary, or a secretary-treasurer, who may or may not be a member
of the board. The chairman, or in his absence, the vice-chairman, shall
preside at all meetings of the board. In the absence of both the chairman
and vice-chairman, the board shall appoint a chairman pro tempore, who
shall preside at such meetings. Four directors shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of the business of the Authority, and no vacancy in
the membership of the board shall impair the right of a quorum to exer-
cise all the rights and perform all the duties of the Authority. The mem-
bers of the board shall be entitled to reimbursement for their expenses
incurred in attendance upon the meetings of the board or while otherwise
engaged in the discharge of their duties. Each member of the board shall
also be paid the sum of twenty-five dollars per day for each day or portion
thereof during which he is engaged in the performance of his duties. Such
expenses and compensation shall be paid out of the treasury of the
Authority upon vouchers signed by the chairman of the board or by such
other person or persons as may be designated by the board for the purpose.