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2020 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Local Government
Subcommittee Charters

Spruill (Chair), Pillion, Bell, Hashmi, Kiggans

Clerk: Maryann Horch, Caroline Wray
Staff: Jeff Sharp, David Barry
Date of Meeting: January 27, 2020
Time and Place: 8:00 a.m. Senate Room 3, Capitol

S.B. 96 Norfolk, City of; amending charter, employees of officers, vagrants.

Patron: Spruill

Charter; City of Norfolk; employees of officers; vagrants. Amends the charter for the City of Norfolk by changing from "election" to "appointment" the term used to describe the selection of certain officers by the city council and clarifying that employees of such officers serve at will. The bill also removes a provision authorizing the City to prevent persons having no visible means of support, paupers, and persons who may be dangerous to the peace or safety of the City from coming to the City and authorizing the City to expel such persons who have been in the City less than 90 days.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2, 11, and 114, as amended, of Chapter 34 of the Acts of Assembly of 1918, which provided a charter for the City of Norfolk, relating to employees of officers; vagrants.

20100674D

S.B. 244 Bluefield, Town of; amending charter, relating to town council, mayor, and town powers.

Patron: Chafin

Charter; Town of Bluefield. Amends the town's charter by (i) increasing the number of council members from five to six, (ii) allowing the mayor to vote only to break ties rather than on all matters, (iii) clarifying that the council may act by motion in addition to ordinance and resolution, and (iv) making technical amendments.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 5, 8 and 9, as amended, and 10 of Chapters 406 and 521 of the Acts of Assembly of 1999, which provided a charter for the Town of Bluefield in the County of Tazewell, relating to town council, mayor, and town powers.

20103892D

S.B. 257 Brodnax, Town of; amending charter, reduces number of town councilmen.

Patron: Ruff

Charter; Town of Brodnax; town council; membership; meetings. Reduces from seven to five the number of town councilmen for the Town of Brodnax. The bill also reduces from four to three the number of councilmen needed for a quorum and from three to two the number of councilmen needed to call a special meeting. The bill contains an emergency clause.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3.1 and 3.8, as amended, of Chapter 131 of the Acts of Assembly of 1977, which provided a charter for the Town of Brodnax in the Counties of Brunswick and Mecklenburg, relating to town council; membership; meetings.

20101084D

EMERGENCY

S.B. 281 Scottsville, Town of; amending charter, staggered elections for town council and other officers.

Patron: Deeds

Charter; Town of Scottsville; town council and other town officers. Provides staggered elections for the town council and removes authority of the town council to appoint other police officers besides the town sergeant. The bill authorizes the town council to appoint a town administrator, and authorizes the town council to appoint one person to multiple offices. The bill changes the term "president of the council" to "vice-mayor" and includes female pronouns with all instances of male pronouns.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 3.9, 5.1, 5.4, 5.6, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10, and 5.11 of Chapter 243 of the Acts of Assembly of 1998, which provided a charter for the Town of Scottsville in the County of Albemarle, and to amend Chapter 243 of the Acts of Assembly of 1998 by adding sections numbered 5.12 and 5.13, relating to town council and other town officers.

20100709D

S.B. 284 Charlottesville, City of; amending charter, modernizes and reorganizes charter.

Patron: Deeds

Charter; City of Charlottesville; city organization; council. Modernizes and reorganizes aspects of the charter of the City of Charlottesville. The bill updates and repeals various provisions to conform to state and federal law as well as current city organization.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 1, 5, as amended, 5.1, as amended, 6, as amended, 7, 8, 9, as amended, 12, as amended, 14, as amended, 17, as amended, 19, 20, as amended, 25, 28, 29, as amended, 36 through 40, 42, 43, as amended, 45-a through 48, 50.1, as amended, 50.2, 50.3, 50.4, as amended, 50.5, 50.6, 50.7, and 51 of Chapter 384 of the Acts of Assembly of 1946, to amend Chapter 384 of the Acts of Assembly of 1946 by adding sections numbered 5.01 and 5.02, and to repeal §§ 2, 10, 11, and 13, as amended, 14-b, 15, as amended, 18, 24, as amended, 26, 27, as amended, 31, 33, as amended, 35, and 45 of Chapter 384 of the Acts of Assembly of 1946, which provided a charter for the City of Charlottesville, relating to city organization; council.

20101610D

S.B. 454 Blacksburg, Town of; amending charter, public hearings.

Patron: Edwards

Charter; Town of Blacksburg; public hearings. Clarifies provisions related to public hearings in the Town of Blacksburg by providing that if the town council plans to conduct a public hearing related to a proposed ordinance but delays action on the proposal, the date for the delayed vote shall be stated on the agenda. Furthermore, after conducting and closing the public hearing, the council may vote to delay action until its next regular meeting.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 3.15, as amended, of Chapter 619 of the Acts of Assembly of 1975, which provided a charter for the Town of Blacksburg in Montgomery County, relating to ordinances; public hearings.

20102442D

S.B. 528 Richmond, City of; amending charter, residency of council members.

Patron: Hashmi

Charter; City of Richmond. Requires a council member to reside in the election district from which the member was elected throughout the member's term on the council. A council member may be removed from office for failure to comply with the residency requirement.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3.01, as amended, and 3.04.1 of Chapter 116 of the Acts of Assembly of 1948, which provided a charter for the City of Richmond, relating to residency of council members.

20102256D

S.B. 541 Middleburg, Town of; amending charter, clarification of powers and duties of mayor, council, etc.

Patron: Vogel

Charter; Town of Middleburg. Amends the charter of the Town of Middleburg by clarifying the powers and duties of the mayor, the town council, and the appointed town officials.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3.4, 3.7, 4.1, as amended, and 4.2 of Chapter 423 of the Acts of Assembly of 1983 and to amend Chapter 423 of the Acts of Assembly of 1983 by adding sections numbered 3.3:1, 4.1:1, 4.1:2, and 4.1:3, which provided a charter for the Town of Middleburg in Loudoun County, relating to powers of council and mayor, salaries, and appointed officers.

20103065D

S.B. 597 Elkton, Town of; amending charter, town boundaries, council meetings.

Patron: Hanger

Charter; Town of Elkton; town boundaries; council meetings. Codifies various annexation agreements between the Town of Elkton and Rockingham County. The bill increases from 30 to 45 days the maximum allowable period between a vacancy in the council and the filling of the vacancy. The bill also authorizes the Chief of Police to deliver via a designee a notice of a special or emergency meeting of the council.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 1.2, 3.2, 3.6, and 6.8 of Chapters 690 and 742 of the Acts of Assembly of 2006, which provided a charter for the Town of Elkton in the County of Rockingham, relating to town boundaries; council meetings.

20102408D

S.B. 690 Dayton, Town of; amending charter, organizational and technical changes.

Patron: Obenshain

Charter; Town of Dayton. Makes numerous organizational and technical changes to the charter for the Town of Dayton in Rockingham County related to town council, powers, and officers. Such changes are consistent with powers generally granted to towns.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.1, 3.6, 3.7, 4.1, and 4.5, as amended, of Chapter 136 of the Acts of Assembly of 1988; to amend Chapter 136 of the Acts of Assembly of 1988 by adding sections numbered 2.3 through 2.9; and to repeal §§ 2.2, 4.2, and 4.4 of Chapter 136 of the Acts of Assembly of 1988, which provided a charter for the Town of Dayton in Rockingham County, relating to town council, town powers, and town officials.

20102467D

S.B. 900 Virginia Beach, City of; amending charter, council members.

Patron: DeSteph

Charter; City of Virginia Beach. Provides that a city council member from one of the residence districts who decides to run for an at-large seat on the council shall tender his resignation as a council member not less than 10 days prior to the date for the filing of petitions. Similarly, a city council member from one of the at-large seats who decides to run for a residence district seat on the council shall tender his resignation as a council member not less than 10 days prior to the filing date. The unexpired portion of the term of any such council member who has resigned shall be filled at the same general election, or by special election if the seat is to be filled by special election.

A BILL to amend Chapter 147 of the Acts of Assembly of 1962, which provided a charter for the City of Virginia Beach, by adding a section numbered 3.02:3, relating to resignation of council members to run for new seat.

20103545D

S.B. 961 Hopewell, City of; amending charter, issuance of bonds.

Patron: Morrissey

Charter; City of Hopewell. Exempts from a referendum requirement bonds issued for the construction, improvement, expansion, or replacement of public buildings or facilities.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2 of Chapter XVIII of Chapter 431 of the Acts of Assembly of 1950, which provided a charter for the City of Hopewell, relating to the issuance of bonds.

20104502D

S.B. 1036 Blackstone, Town of; amending charter, advisory referendums.

Patron: Ruff

Charter; Town of Blackstone; advisory referendums. Authorizes the Town of Blackstone to hold advisory referendums regarding the use by the Town of Blackstone of town funds to construct, repair, remodel, or improve (i) the Harris Memorial Armory or (ii) a community center.

A BILL to amend Chapter 128 of the Acts of Assembly of 1989, which provided a charter for the Town of Blackstone in the County of Nottoway, by adding in Chapter 4 sections numbered 4.5 and 4.6, relating to advisory referendums.

20104757D

S.B. 1084 Abingdon, Town of; amending charter, updates town's boundary descriptions.

Patron: Pillion

Charter; Town of Abingdon. Updates the town's boundary description, repeals outdated provisions, and makes various technical amendments to charter terminology.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 1.3, 3.1, 3.4, 3.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.5, 4.9, and 4.12 of Chapter 76 of the Acts of Assembly of 1978, which provided a charter for the Town of Abingdon in Washington County, and to repeal §§ 4.6 and 4.7 of Chapter 76 of the Acts of Assembly of 1978, relating to town boundaries, council, mayor, town manager, and salaries.

20103963D