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Ordinance chapter · Blackstone, Virginia

Chapter 2 - ADMINISTRATION

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Chapter 2 - ADMINISTRATION#

Footnotes:#

(1) ---

Charter reference— Powers of town, ch. 2; administration and government, ch. 3; miscellaneous, ch. 4.

Cross reference— Building inspector, § 18-36 et seq.; cemeteries, ch. 22; fire prevention and protection, ch. 30; law enforcement, ch. 34; solid waste, ch. 46; streets, sidewalks and other public places, ch. 50; taxation, ch. 54; utilities, ch. 62; administration of waterworks by town manager, § 62-29; administration of sewer use division, § 62-256 et seq.; administration of subdivision ordinance, app. A, sec. 3.

State Law reference— The Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Code of Virginia, § 2.1-340 et seq.; State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act, Code of Virginia, § 2.1-639.1 et seq.; Virginia Public Procurement Act, Code of Virginia, § 11-35 et seq.; liability insurance or self-insurance for officers, employees, etc., Code of Virginia, § 15.1-7.3:1; photographing, recording, etc., of records, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-8; purchase of recycled paper, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-11.5:01; municipal ordinances generally, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-13; fiscal year for certain local governments, Code of Virginia, §§ 15.1-13.2, 15.1-159.8; 15.1-160; creation of service districts, Code of Virginia, §§ 15.1-18.2, 15.1-18.3; fee for bad checks, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-29.4; oath of local officers, Code of Virginia, §§ 15.1-38, 49-1; budget procedures, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-159.8 et seq.; Public Finance Act of 1991, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-227.1 et seq.; enacting certain ordinances relating to finance and taxes, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-812; oath of town councilmen, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-829; Virginia Public Records Act, Code of Virginia, § 42.1-76 et seq.

ARTICLE II. - COUNCIL#

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Charter reference— Mayor and council, ch. 3.

Cross reference— Disorderly conduct in public meetings, § 38-66.

State Law reference— Powers of town vested in governing body, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-7; where officers shall reside, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-51; members of councils ineligible to hold certain offices, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-800; oaths of councilmen, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-829; suspension or removal of town officers other than the mayor, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-831.

Sec. 2-26. - Regular meetings.#

The council shall meet on the third Monday in each month, at 7:00 p.m. local time or at such other time as the council shall designate, provided notice thereof shall have been provided pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 2.1-343.

(Code 1971, § 2-4; Ord. of 12-7-92, § 2-4)

Charter reference— Regular meetings of council, § 3.4(B).

Sec. 2-27. - Special meetings.#

Special meetings of the council may be called at any time by the mayor, or by any three members thereof, for the purpose of transacting such business as may be stated in the call. At such special meetings no business shall be transacted other than stated in the call. All the members shall be given personal notice of every special meeting, and if any member is out of town, notice shall be left at his usual place of abode.

(Code 1971, § 2-5)

Charter reference— Special meetings of council, § 3.4(B).

State Law reference— Council convened by mayor or three members, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-832.

Sec. 2-28. - Quorum.#

A majority of the members of the council shall be required at all times to constitute a quorum, and no business shall be transacted without a quorum present.

(Code 1971, § 2-6)

Charter reference— Quorum of council, § 3.2(C).

Sec. 2-29. - Recordation of vote.#

A recorded vote of the members of the council shall be taken on any question on the request of any member present.

(Code 1971, § 2-7)

Charter reference— Recording yeas and nays, § 3.4(D).

State Constitution reference— Recording of certain votes, art. VII, § 7.

State Law reference— Recording of vote for tax levy, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-826; journal of council, entry therein of yeas and nays, reading and signing journal, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-828.

Sec. 2-30. - Minutes to show which members present.#

The names of all members present shall be recorded on the minutes at every council meeting.

(Code 1971, § 2-8)

Sec. 2-31. - Order of business.#

The regular order of business of council meetings shall be as follows:

  1. Reading of minutes of last meeting.
  2. Scheduled visitors.
  3. Fire chief's report.
  4. Payment of bills.
  5. Committee reports and old business.
  6. Ongoing projects.
  7. New business.
  8. Mayor's minute.
  9. Police report.
  10. Citizens' comments.

(Code 1971, § 2-9)

Sec. 2-32. - Standing committees—Appointment; enumeration.#

The mayor shall, on or before the third Monday of July, annually, appoint the following standing committees, to be selected from members of the council, and to be composed of three members each:

  1. Account and finance;
  2. Health and ordinance;
  3. Building, property and cemetery;
  4. Fire and water;
  5. Airport and transportation;
  6. Parks and recreation;
  7. Insurance;
  8. Employment and police;
  9. Cable TV franchise.

Matters to be referred to the several standing committees are such as appertain to or relate to the subjects designated in the names of the committees.

(Code 1971, § 2-10; Min. of 7-1-10)

Cross reference— Buildings and building regulations, ch. 18; cemeteries, ch. 22; fire prevention and protection, ch. 30; streets, sidewalks and other public places, ch. 50; traffic and vehicles, ch. 58; utilities, ch. 62.

Sec. 2-33. - Same—Powers, reports and recommendations.#

None of the standing committees shall have any powers, except such as may be conferred on them from time to time by the council, but such committees shall make monthly reports to the council recommending or suggesting any benefits or improvements they may deem necessary or advisable.

(Code 1971, § 2-11)

Sec. 2-34. - Reserved.#

Editor's note— An ordinance adopted August 21, 2006(1), repealed § 2-34, which pertained to salary of councilmembers and derived from Ord. of 6-4-90, § 2-11.1.

ARTICLE III. - OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES#

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State Law reference— Town officers generally, Code of Virginia, §§ 15.1-13, 15.1-794, 15.1-797; when and how officers qualify, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-38 et seq.; residence of town officers, Code of Virginia, §§ 15.1-51, 15.1-52; suspension and removal of town officers, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-831; form of oath of officers, Code of Virginia, § 49-1.

DIVISION 2. - MAYOR#

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Charter reference— Mayor and council, ch. 3.

State Law reference— Mayor to preside over council, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-827; oath of mayor, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-829.

Sec. 2-66. - Supervision of town officials; suspension or removal; enforcement of ordinances.#

(a) The mayor shall have general supervision of the officials of the town.

(b) The mayor shall have power to remove any officer appointed by him, and to suspend any town officer or employee, other than the councilmen, whether elected by the people or appointed by the council or any appointing power designated by the council, for misconduct in office or neglect of duty to be specified in the order of suspension. On the suspension of any officer not appointed by the mayor, the mayor shall report the suspension to the council at their next stated meeting for their consideration, but in no case shall the suspension or removal by the mayor of an officer not appointed by him be final unless ratified by the council, and after such reasonable notice to the officer complained of and an opportunity to be heard in his defense, as may be accorded by law.

(c) The mayor shall also see that this Code and other ordinances of the town are enforced.

(Code 1971, § 2-12)

Charter reference— General powers of mayor, § 3.3.

DIVISION 3. - TOWN MANAGER#

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Cross reference— Town manager designated as keeper of cemetery, § 22-27.

State Law reference— Authority for employment of town manager, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-795.

Sec. 2-76. - Holding of additional town offices.#

The town manager may or may not occupy any one or more of the following offices: clerk of the council, zoning administrator, town treasurer, and such other offices as are designated by the council from time to time.

(Code 1971, § 2-21)

Sec. 2-77. - Duties generally.#

The town manager shall be the general business manager of the town, shall take general management of the financial affairs of the town, shall prepare the annual budget, shall purchase all supplies needed for the various departments of the town, and in all respects perform for the town the functions of general manager, as though the town were a private corporation.

(Code 1971, § 2-23)

State Law reference— Duties of town manager, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-795.

Sec. 2-78. - Auditing and approval of bills.#

(a) All bills against the town shall be presented to the town manager and carefully audited by him. The council shall order no bill paid unless the bill shall have been audited by the town manager and his recommendation with reference thereto endorsed thereon. Other than the salaries of the regular officers and employees of the town and hire of extra labor, the treasurer or a deputy treasurer may pay bills against the town, provided they have been approved and audited by the town manager. All such bills shall be submitted to the council for approval at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

(b) In addition to the treasurer, who is authorized to sign checks upon the town, the town manager, town clerk and town bookkeeper appointed by the council, are hereby designated as deputy treasurers with authority to sign checks upon the town. Prior to signing checks, the treasurer and each deputy treasurer shall be required to execute a bond in favor of the town with corporate surety thereon, for the faithful performance of his or her duties, in the amount of $100,000.00.

(Code 1971, § 2-24; Ord. of 4-18-95)

Sec. 2-79. - Accounts.#

The town manager shall keep carefully segregated accounts of the expenses of the various departments and works of the town.

(Code 1971, § 2-25)

Sec. 2-80. - Monthly financial report.#

The town manager shall report the financial status of the town to the council on a monthly basis.

(Code 1971, § 2-28)

ARTICLE IV. - RESERVED#

Footnotes:#

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Editor's note— An ordinance adopted May 19, 2003, repealed Art. IV, which pertained to procurement, in its entirety. See the Code Comparative Table.