CHAPTER 197

An Act to provide a new charter for the town of Bridgewater tn Rock-
ingham County, and to repeal Chapter 190 of the Acts of Assembly
of 1885, passed February 7, 1885, and all acts amendatory thereof.

[H 277]
Approved March 7, 1960

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. The inhabitants of the territory embraced within the limits of
the town of Bridgewater as hereinafter defined or as the same may be
hereafter altered or established by law shall constitute and continue a
body politic and corporate, to be known and designated as the town of
Bridgewater, and as such shall have and may exercise all powers which
are now, or 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 such powers were specifically enumerated herein. No
enumeration of particular powers by this charter shall be held to be ex-
clusive.

The town shall have, exercise and enjoy all the rights, immunities,
powers and privileges and be subject to all the duties and obligations now
appertaining to and incumbent on said town as a municipal corporation,
and shall have perpetual succession, may sue and be sued, implead and be
impleaded, contract and be contracted with, and may have a corporate
seal which it may alter, renew, or amend at its pleasure by proper ordi-
nance.

§ 2. The territory embraced within the limits of the town of Bridge-
water is as follows:

All that territory set forth and described by metes and bounds in
Soto Chapter 112 of the Acts of Assembly of 1912, approved March 11,

§ 3. The powers set forth in §§ 15-77.5 through 15-77.70 of Chapter
5.1 of Title 15 of the Code of Virginia as in force on January one, nine-
teen hundred sixty, are hereby conferred on and vested in the town of
Bridgewater. ;

§ 4. The mayor shall be elected for a term of two years, at the time
and in the manner provided by law, and his compensation shall be fixed
by the council.

§ The council shall consist of six electors of the town of Bridge-
water, Virginia, who shall hold office for a term of two years from the first
day of September next following the date of their election, and until their
successors have been duly elected and qualified. The first municipal elec-
tion under this charter shall be held on the second Tuesday in June, nine-
teen hundred sixty and on the second Tuesday in June every two years
thereafter.

§ 6. On the second Tuesday in June, nineteen hundred sixty, and on
the second Tuesday in June every two years thereafter, there shall be
elected a town treasurer and a town assessor, each of whom shall hold
office for a term of two years from the first day of September next follow-
ing the date of his election and until his successor shall have been elected
and qualified. The council may provide salaries for the town treasurer and
town assessor, or either of them, and fix the amounts, or amount,

ereof.

The town treasurer shall give such bond, with surety and in such
penalty as the council prescribes. He shall receive all money belonging to
the town, and keep correct accounts of all receipts from all sources and of
all expenditures of all departments. He shall be responsible for the collec-
tion of all taxes, license fees, levies and charges due to the town, and shall
disburse the moneys of the town in the manner prescribed by the council as
it may by ordinance direct. The treasurer shall make such reports and at
such time as the council may prescribe. The books and accounts of the
treasurer shall be examined and audited at such times as the council may
direct, such examination and audit to be reported to the council. The town
assessor shall make all assessments which may be required by ordinance
and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by council.

§ 7. All town officers and employees heretofore elected or appointed
shall remain in office and continue in their employment and be vested with
the powers and duties heretofore imposed upon them by the council or by
operation by law or hereafter imposed upon them under the provisions of
this act until their successors are duly elected or appointed as provided by
law or until action is taken by the town as set forth in § 15-77.9 of Chap-
ter 5.1 of Title 15 of the Code of Virginia as in force on January one, nine-
teen hundred sixty.

§ 8. All ordinances and resolutions heretofore made and adopted by
the town, not in conflict with this charter shall be and remain in full force
and effect until altered, amended or repealed by the council of the town.

2. Chapter 190 of the Acts of Assembly of 1835, passed February 7, 1835,
entitled “An Act to establish the town of Bridgewater in the county of
Rockingham” and all acts amendatory thereof are hereby repealed.
3. An emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.