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2002 SESSION
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 3, § 4, as amended, § 5, and § 6, as amended, of Chapter 480 of the Acts of Assembly of 1942 are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 3. Powers of the Town of Chatham.
In addition to the powers elsewhere mentioned in this charter and powers conferred by general law, and the Constitution, the said Town of Chatham shall have the following powers:
(1) To raise revenue as hereinafter provided, in accordance with this charter
and the laws of the State Commonwealth of Virginia.
(2) To impose special and local assessments for local improvements as
hereinafter provided in accordance with general laws of this State
Commonwealth.
(3) To impose a tax not exceeding one dollar per annum upon all persons
residing in said town above the age of twenty-one years, not exempt from the payment
of State capitation tax.
(4 3) To contract debts, borrow money, and make and issue evidences of
indebtedness.
(5 4) To expend the money of the town for all lawful purposes.
(6 5) To acquire by purchase, gift, devise, condemnation or otherwise,
property, real or personal, or any estate therein, within or without the town,
for any purpose of the town; and to hold, improve, sell, lease, mortgage,
pledge or otherwise dispose of the same or any part thereof, including any
property owned by the town.
(7 6) To establish markets in the town and regulate the same, and to enforce
such regulations in regards to the keeping and sales of fresh meat, vegetables, eggs, and other green
groceries and the trade of hucksters and junk dealers as may be deemed advisable.
(8 7) To own, operate and maintain water works and to acquire in any lawful
manner in any county of the State Commonwealth, such water, lands, property
rights, and riparian rights as the council of the said town may deem necessary for the purpose of
providing an adequate water supply to the said town and piping and conducting
the same; to lay, erect and maintain all necessary mains and service lines,
either within or without the corporate 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 maintain 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 sanitation
patrol 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
Commonwealth; 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, and to carry out the powers herein granted, and said
town may exercise within the State Commonwealth all powers of eminent domain
provided by the laws of the State Commonwealth.
(9 8) To acquire by gift, purchase, exchange or by right of exercise of the
power of eminent domain within this State Commonwealth, lands or any interest
or estate in lands, rock quarries, gravel-pits, sand pits, water and water rights, and the necessary
roadways thereto, either within or without the town, and to acquire and install
machinery and equipment, and build the necessary roads or tramways thereto,
operate the same for producing material required for any and all purposes of
the town.
(10 9) To provide in or near the town lands to be used as burial places for
the dead; to charge for and to improve and care for and regulate the use of the ground therein; to
cooperate with any nonprofit corporation or society in the improvement and care of burial places and
approaches thereto; and to provide for the perpetual upkeep and care of any
plot or burial lot therein, and the said town is authorized to take and receive
sums of money by gift, bequest, or otherwise, to be kept invested, and the
income thereof used in and about perpetual upkeep and care of the said lot or
burial plot, for which the said donation, gift or bequest shall have been made;
and said town is further empowered to subdivide any such land acquired as
burial places for the dead into lots and to sell or otherwise dispose of the
same to person or persons, and to contract with such person or persons, either
at the time of sale or other disposition of said lot or lots, or at any other
time, for temporary or permanent care and maintenance, by payment of such sum
or sums to the said town as it may deem sufficient, to be held and invested by
it, the income to be used for said permanent care and maintenance, and in all
such cases, such permanent care shall be consistent with the general rules and
regulations governing such burial place as may be designated by the council of
the said town. And all acts of the said town in accepting from any cemetery or
other private company, society or corporation any such land to be used as a
burial place for the dead, whether said land had been heretofore used or not,
as well as all contracts and agreements made with any person or persons for
perpetual care and maintenance are hereby declared valid.
(11 10) To collect and dispose of sewage, offal, ashes, garbage, carcasses of
dead animals, and other refuse, make reasonable charges therefor; to acquire
and operate reduction or any other plants for utilization or destruction of
such material or any of them; to contract or regulate the collection and
disposal thereof, and to require the collection and disposal thereof, and to
acquire land within or without the said town for said purpose.
(12 11) 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.
(13 12) 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 limits of the town or within one mile thereof.
(14 13) To construct, maintain, regulate and operate public improvements of
all kinds, including municipal and other buildings, markets and all buildings and structures
necessary and 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.
(15 14) To establish, alter, enter, open, widen, extend, grade, improve,
construct, maintain, and clean public highways, streets, sidewalks, boulevards, parkways, and alleys;
to establish and maintain parks, playgrounds and public grounds; to keep then 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, streets,
alleys, 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 upon such public grounds; to prevent the
obstruction of such streets, alleys and highways, abolish and prevent grade
crossings over the same by railroads in the manner provided by general law for
the elimination of grade crossing; to require any railroad company operating a
railroad at a place where any highway or street is crossed within the limits of
the town to erect and maintain at such crossing proper gates and keep a person
in charge thereof, or keep a flagman at such crossings during such hours as the
council may require in accordance with general laws; to regulate, except
insofar as may be prohibited by State law, the operation and speed of
automobile and vehicles upon said streets and highways, as well as the speed of
all engines, cars and trains on railroads within the town; and to do all other
things whatsoever adapted to make said streets and highways safe, convenient
and attractive.
(16 15) In addition to the parks and playgrounds above provided for, the said
town may also operate parks, playgrounds, and public grounds without the corporate limits of said
town, and may place thereon stadiums, swimming pools, recreation and amusement buildings, structures
or enclosures of every character, and charge admission, and may rent out or
lease the privileges of the same.
(17 16) 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 against
the proper tenant or tenants; and may by ordinance require a deposit of such a
reasonable amount as it may by such ordinance prescribe before furnishing such
service, to either owner or tenant.
(18 17) To establish, construct and maintain sanitary sewers, sewer lines and
systems, and to require abutting property owners to connect therewith and to
establish, construct, maintain and operate sewage disposal plants, and to
acquire by condemnation or otherwise, within or without the town limits, all
land, rights-of-way, riparian and other rights and easements necessary for the
said purpose, and to charge and assess and collect reasonable fees, rentals,
assessments or costs of service for connecting with and using the same.
(19 18) Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and general laws and
this charter, to grant franchises for public utilities.
(20 19) To charge and 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 services to
citizens within the corporate limits.
(21 20) 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 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, or the exercise of any dangerous or
unwholesome business, trade, or employment therein; to regulate the
transportation of all articles through the streets of said town; to compel the
abatement of smoke and dust, and prevent unnecessary noise; to regulate the
location of stables and the manner in which the same shall be kept and
constructed; to regulate the location, construction, operation, and maintenance
of billboards and generally to define, prohibit, abate, suppress, and prevent
all things detrimental to the health, morals, aesthetics, 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, free from all weeds, filth, unsightly deposits and ice and snow.
(22 21) To extinguish and prevent fires, and to establish, regulate and control
a fire department or division, to regulate the size, height, material 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 buildings,
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 contrary to law; and may enact stringent and efficient
laws for securing the safety of persons from fires in halls and buildings used
for public assemblies, entertainments, amusements, or school gatherings.
(23 22) To direct the location of all buildings for storing explosives or
combustible substances; to regulate the sale and use of gunpowder,
nitroglycerin, fireworks, kerosene oil or other like material; to regulate the
exhibition of fireworks, the discharge of firearms, and the making of bonfires
in the streets or yards.
(24 23) To provide for the care, support and maintenance of children and of
sick, aged, insane or poor persons and paupers; and where in the opinion of the governing body of the
town the same is necessary, to contribute to organizations providing for care, support or maintenance
of sick, aged, insane or poor persons and paupers.
(25 24) To prevent the riding and driving of horses or other animals at an
improper speed; to prevent the throwing of stones, or engaging in any sort of employment in the
public streets which is dangerous or annoying to passersby, and to prohibit the
abuse of animals.
(26 25) To acquire in any lawful manner, for the purpose of encouraging
commerce and manufacture, lands within or without the town, not exceeding at any one time five
hundred acres in the aggregate, and from time to time sell or lease the same or
any part thereof for industrial or commercial use and purposes, irrespective of
the consideration paid for such lease or sale.
(27 26) 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 to expel therefrom any such person who has been in said town less than twelve
months.
(28 27) 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 town; and to
expel therefrom persons guilty of such conduct who have not resided therein as
much as twelve months.
(29 28) To prohibit and punish mischievous, wanton or malicious damage to
school and public property, as well as private property.
(30 29) To prohibit and punish minors from frequenting, playing in or
loitering in any public poolroom, billiard parlor, or bowling alley, and to punish any proprietor or
agent therefor for permitting the same.
(31 30) To compel persons sentenced to confinement in jail of the town for any
misdemeanor or other violation of the laws or ordinances of the town to work on
the public streets, parks or other public works of the town; and on the
requisition of the mayor or any other persons acting as judge or justice of the
municipal court, it shall be the duty of the sergeant of the town to deliver
such persons to the duly authorized agent of the town for such purposes from
day to day as he may require. For the purpose of carrying into effect the
police regulations of the said town, the town shall be allowed the use of the
county jail of Pittsylvania County for the safe keeping and confinement of all
persons who shall be sentenced to imprisonment under the ordinances of the said
town.
(32 31) To offer and pay rewards for the apprehension and conviction of
criminals.
(33 32) To give names to streets and to alter and change the same.
(34 33) To regulate, permit or prohibit poles and wires for electric,
telephone and telegraph purposes to be erected and gas or other pipes to be laid in the streets and
alleys, and to prescribe and collect annual charges for such privileges,
hereafter granted; to require the owner or lessee of an electric light,
telephone or telegraph pole or poles or wires now in use or hereafter erected,
to change the location or move the same; to require all telephone and telegraph
wires and all wires and cables carrying electricity, hereafter installed, to be
placed in conduits under ground, and prescribe rules and regulations for the
construction of such conduits, provided that none of the rights exercised by
town in accordance with this paragraph shall be inconsistent with the
provisions of any franchise granted by town.
(35 34) To enact and carry out zoning ordinances, and building codes within
the limits of the said town, in conformity with laws of the State Commonwealth
of Virginia, and to provide for changes therein, and by ordinance from time to time to modify
and change the same.
(36 35) To enact and carry out plumbing and heating ordinances and to regulate
in the limits of the town the installation of water, gas, and heating pipes,
and lines, fixtures, boilers and plants, on private or public property, and to
regulate and supervise the installation of the same.
(37 36) To exercise full police powers and establish and maintain a division
or department of police.
(38 37) To make and enforce ordinances, not inconsistent with the laws of the
State Commonwealth of Virginia.
(39 38) To enjoin and restrain the violation of any town ordinance or
ordinances, although a penalty is provided upon conviction thereof.
(40 39) To pass and enforce all by-laws, rules, regulations and ordinances
which may be deemed 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 and their property, and to do such other things,
pass such other laws, as may be necessary or proper to carry into full force
and effect, all powers, authority, capacity or jurisdiction which is or shall
be granted or vested in said town, in the council, court, or other officers
thereof, or which may be necessarily incident to a municipal corporation.
(41 40) To provide reasonable penalties for violation of any town ordinance,
rule or regulation or any provision of this charter, not exceeding penalties
prescribed by the general laws of the State Commonwealth of Virginia.
(42 41) To appoint a town sergeant who shall qualify and give bond, if any
required, in such amount as the council may deem proper. He shall be vested
with powers of a conservator of the peace, and shall have the same powers and
discharge the same duties as a constable within the corporate limits of the
town, and to a distance of one mile beyond the same, and shall perform such
other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the council a chief of
police, and such additional police officers as it may deem necessary or proper, to
prescribe rules and regulations for the government thereof, and to prescribe their rate of
pay. Until the town council shall appoint the chief of police, the town
sergeant shall perform the duties of such office. The policemen of the town
shall have no power or authority in civil matters, but shall in all other cases
execute such warrants or summonses as may be placed in their hands by
appropriate authority and shall make due return thereof. The sergeant and the
police officers for the town shall have the power to arrest without warrants
and carry before proper authority, to be dealt with according to law, any and
all persons who shall violate any ordinance of the town or laws of the
Commonwealth in their presence and it shall be their duty to swear out warrants
of arrest for any person where they have reason to believe any offense has been
committed.
(43 42) The mayor, the town councilmen, the town sergeant and the members of
the police force of the town shall have jurisdiction, power and authority in criminal and police
matters for one mile from the corporate limits of the said town.
§ 4. Administration and Government.
(1) The present mayor and council of the Town of Chatham shall continue in office until the expiration of the term for which they were respectively elected, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this charter, all powers of the town and the administration and government of the said town shall be vested in the council of the Town of Chatham, and such boards or officers as are hereafter mentioned, or may be by law otherwise provided.
(3) On the second Tuesday in June, 1942, first Tuesday in May 2002, and every
two years thereafter, there shall be elected by the qualified voters of the Town of
Chatham, one elector qualified voter of the town, who shall be denominated
mayor and will serve a two-year term,. and There shall also be elected six
other electors qualified voters of the town, who shall be denominated the
councilmen of the town and shall serve for terms of four years, and said mayor
and councilmen shall constitute the town council. For the elections to be held
in May 2002, the three councilmen receiving the highest number of votes shall serve
four-year terms and the remaining three councilmen shall serve two-year terms. Upon
the next election in May of 2004, the three expiring councilmanic terms shall
be filled by election for four-year terms. They shall enter upon the discharge
of the duties of their offices on the first day of September July next
succeeding their election, and shall continue in office until their successors
are duly elected and qualified. Every person elected shall take an oath
faithfully to execute and discharge the duties of his office to the best of his
judgment, and the mayor shall take the oath prescribed by law for State
officers. The failure of any person elected or appointed under the provisions
of this Act hereof to qualify or to take the oath required, within the time
prescribed for entering upon the discharge of the duties of the office to which he is elected or
appointed, shall vacate the said office, and the council shall proceed and are
hereby vested with power to fill such vacancy in the manner herein prescribed.
(4) There shall be appointed for the town a registrar and officers of election
in the manner provided for by general law of Virginia, and all elections held
in said town shall be governed in accordance with said general law; the
electorate shall be that prescribed by general law. All elections shall be
conducted in accordance with state law. For such purposes, the local electoral board and
registrar appointed pursuant to the provisions of Articles 3 through 5 (§
24.2-106 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 24.2 of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as
amended, shall be responsible for the conduct and regulation of such elections for
the town.
(5) The council of the town shall judge the election, qualification and return of its members; may fine them for disorderly conduct, and with concurrence of two-thirds vote of the council, expel a member. If any person returned, be adjudged disqualified, or be expelled, a new election to fill the vacancy shall be ordered by the council and held on such day as it may designate by ordinance. Any other vacancy occurring during the term of any member of the council shall be filled by the council by the appointment of anyone eligible to such office. A vacancy in the office of mayor shall be filled by the council from the electors of the town, and any member of the council may be eligible to such office.
(6) For the transaction of business by the council, four members of whom the mayor may be counted as one, shall constitute a quorum.
(7) Each member of the council may receive a salary to be fixed by the
council, payable at such times, and in such manner, as the council may direct,
but the salary paid to any one member during any year shall not exceed the sum
of sixty dollars $600 per annum annually; the mayor may receive a salary to be
fixed by the council, payable in such manner and at such times as the council may
direct, not to exceed the sum of five hundred dollars $1,200 per annum
annually; and the council is also empowered to provide that the salary of
the mayor shall be in lieu of any fees he is entitled to receive for acting as
justice of the municipal court. The present acting council of the town shall
receive no salary for their services during the remaining part of their present
term, but may set a salary for both mayor and councilmen to begin on and after
the first day of September, 1942 July 2002. The salary of the mayor and the
councilmen, when fixed, shall so continue until changed by the council, and shall be payable out of the
treasury of the town in monthly installments.
(8) The mayor shall preside at the meetings of the council and perform such
other duties as may be prescribed by this charter and by general law, and such
as may be imposed by the council, consistent with his office. The mayor shall
have no right to vote in the council except that in case of a tie vote then, in
which case the mayor shall vote. The mayor shall, unless the council shall by
resolution place the trial of violations of town ordinances in the hands of the trial
justice, or some other duly authorized person, be clothed with authority to try all
violations of any ordinance of the town, and shall be a conservator of the
peace within the limits of the town. There may be two justices of the peace
for the Town of Chatham who shall be appointed by the council and shall hold
office during its pleasure, and such justices may be justices of the peace for
Chatham Magisterial District. They shall be conservators of the peace within
the limits of the Town of Chatham, and one mile beyond, and shall have the
right and authority to issue warrants and summon witnesses involving violations
of town ordinances. All warrants and process issued by the justices shall be
returnable before the mayor. The compensation of said justices of the peace
shall be determined by the council of the town and shall be either in the form
of a salary or the fees which the justices collect.
(9) The council shall, as soon as practicable, after qualification, choose one
of its members as vice-mayor. The vice vice-mayor shall perform the duties of
the mayor during his absence or disability, and in event of a vacancy for any
reason in the office of mayor, he shall serve until a mayor is duly appointed
by the council or is elected. The said vice-mayor shall continue to have all
rights, privileges, powers, duties and obligations of councilman while
performing the duties of mayor during the absence or disability of the mayor of
the town, and the said vice mayor shall be clothed with authority to try all
violations of any ordinance of the said town in absence of the mayor or in event of
the mayor for any reason being disqualified to try any such violation. In the
absence of the mayor or vice-mayor, the mayor may designate a member of the council
to perform his duties.
(10) The council shall, by ordinance, fix the time for their meetings, but shall have at least one meeting each month. Special meetings shall be called by the clerk at the instance of the mayor or any three members of the council, in writing; no business shall be transacted at a special meeting but that for which it shall be called, unless the council be unanimous. The meetings of the council shall be open to the public except when in the judgment of the council the public welfare shall require executive sessions.
(11) The council shall keep a minute book, in which the clerk shall note the proceedings of the council, and shall record proceedings at large on the minute book and keep the same properly indexed.
(12) The council may adopt rules for regulating its proceedings, but no tax shall be levied or corporate debt contracted except by a vote of two-thirds of the council, four votes being counted as two-thirds, which vote shall be taken by yeas and nays, and recorded in the minute book. It may appoint such committees as may be deemed proper for the transaction of business, and may compel attendance of absent members.
(13) The council may require the mayor to communicate to it annually as soon after the close of the fiscal year, or oftener, if necessary a general statement of the condition of the town in relation to its government, finances and improvements, with such recommendations as he may deem proper. He shall exercise a constant supervision over the conduct of all subordinate officers, have power and authority to investigate their acts, have access to all books and documents in their offices, and may examine such officer on oath. He shall have power to suspend all officers appointed by the council until the next regular meeting of the council, but such suspension shall in all cases be for misconduct in office or neglect of duty, to be specified in the order of suspension. In case of suspension of any officer the mayor shall submit a written report of the same to the council at its next regular meeting, or any meeting called for that purpose, specifically designating the charge against the officer and reasons for dismissal, and in case of suspension by the mayor, he shall have power to appoint some other person in his place to hold such office and perform the duties thereof until the next regular meeting of the council.
(14) Every ordinance passed by the council for the violation of which a penalty is imposed shall be published in such way as the council may order, so as to give general publicity thereto, and no order may become effective until so published, either by handbills posted in at least two public places, or in a newspaper published and having general circulation in the town, except in the case of an emergency, in which instance the ordinance shall so state and shall become effective immediately upon its passage. If published by handbill, a certification of the posting thereof shall be made by the clerk or sergeant as to the time and place where the ordinance is recorded, provided however, that after the expiration of six months from date of the passage of any ordinance, its publication shall not be questioned, or its validity affected by any failure to publish the same.
§ 5. Town Clerk.
At its first meeting in September of 1942 July 2002, or as soon thereafter as
practicable, and every two years thereafter, there shall be appointed by the council a clerk, who
shall hold office at the pleasure of council for a period of two years, unless
sooner removed by the council for cause, and said clerk shall attend all
meetings of the council, and shall keep a permanent record of its proceedings as
hereinbefore set out; he shall be custodian of the town seal, and shall affix
the same to all documents and instruments requiring a seal, and shall attest
the same; he shall keep all papers, codes, documents, and records pertaining to
the town, the custody of which is not otherwise provided for in this charter.
He shall give all notices to all parties, presenting petitions or
communications to the council of the final action of the council on such
petitions or communications; he shall publish such reports and ordinances as
the council is required to publish, and such other records and ordinances as it
may direct; he shall perform such other acts or duties as the council may, from
time to time, require.
§ 6. Town Treasurer.
(1) There shall be appointed by the council at its first meeting in September
of 1942 July 2002, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and every two years
thereafter, a treasurer, who shall serve at the pleasure of the council who before entering upon
the discharge of his duties shall give bond with sufficient surety to be
approved by the council, in the penalty of such amount as may be fixed by the
council from time to time, payable to the Town of Chatham, conditioned for the
true and faithful performance of the duties of his office. The treasurer shall
be responsible for the collection of all taxes, licenses, and levies and
charges for services furnished by the public utilities of the town. The
council shall have the authority to place in the hands of a town collector to
be designated by it, the collection of taxes, licenses and other levies at any
time if in the discretion of the council it shall be proper to do so.
(2) The town treasurer shall receive all moneys belonging to the town which it is his duty to collect from persons owing the same to the town, or which it is the duty of other officers of the town to collect and pay over to him, and pay the same out as ordinances of the town may prescribe; to keep all such moneys safely, and account therefor; and to pay all drafts and orders made on him in conformity with ordinances of the town.
(3) The funds of the town shall be deposited by the treasurer in such bank or banks as the council may direct, and such bank or banks may be required to give security in such sum or sums as the council shall fix. He shall keep books showing accurately the date of his accounts and the money of the town shall be kept distinct and separate from his own money, and he is prohibited expressly from using directly or indirectly the town's money for his own benefit, or the benefit of any other person or persons whomsoever, and any violation of this provision shall subject him to immediate removal from office.
(4) The town treasurer shall, when required by the council, render an account to the council showing the state of the treasury and balance of money on hand. He shall also, when required by the council, accompany such account with a statement of all moneys received by him on what account with a list of checks paid by him during the month closed, and shall furnish such other information as the council may direct, and at all times the accounts and books of the treasurer shall be open to inspection by the mayor and council, and to any other person or persons appointed by the council to inspect the same.
(5) All taxes, levies and other sums of money received by the town treasurer belonging to the Town of Chatham, shall be credited on the books of the treasurer, and paid out by him only on a warrant of the clerk of the council, countersigned by the mayor.
(6) The treasurer shall perform such other duties as may be required by the
council, not inconsistent with the general laws of the State Commonwealth, and
he shall receive for his services such compensation as the council may deem proper.
2. That an emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.