Virginia Law

A. In all cases where a public hearing is required by law, the commission shall conduct the public hearing at which any interested person or party may testify. The commission shall generally schedule the public hearing in conjunction with the oral presentations held, if any, with respect to the issue; however, public hearings regarding proposed town incorporations required pursuant to § 15.2-3601 of the Code of Virginia shall be held no sooner than 30 days after receipt of the court request for commission review.

B. Prior to holding the public hearing the commission shall publish notice of the pending hearing as required by law.

In addition to the notice of public hearing required by this subsection, a town that is a party to an agreement defining annexation rights negotiated pursuant to § 15.2-3231 of the Code of Virginia shall give written notice of the commission's hearing at least 10 days before the hearing to the owners or their agent of each parcel of land included in the area proposed for annexation under the terms of the agreement. One notice sent by first-class mail to the last known address of the owners or their agent as shown on the current county real estate tax assessment books or current county real estate tax assessment records shall be deemed adequate compliance with this requirement, provided that the clerk of the town shall make an affidavit that the mailings have been made and file the affidavit with the commission.

C. The commission shall request the party initiating the issue before it and the other principally affected parties to place on public display in or adjacent to the office of the chief administrative officer of each principally affected local government copies of all materials which are available to them and which have been submitted to the commission for consideration with respect to the issue. The material should be made conveniently available to the public during normal working hours. The commission also encourages the parties to make available to the public other copies of the material at libraries, educational facilities, or other public places in order that the public might have ample opportunity to study the material prior to the public hearing. The commission's advertisements published under subsection B of this section shall announce the availability of the material at the offices of the administrators and at other facilities as may be selected by the parties for display purposes.

D. The commission shall request the chief administrative officer (or other official) of each jurisdiction principally affected by the issue before the commission to make suitable arrangements in or adjacent to their offices for the registration of speakers at the public hearing. The commission shall furnish appropriate registration forms for that purpose. The commission's advertisements under subsection B of this section shall advise the public that registration to speak at the public hearing may be accomplished at the offices of the local administrators or, alternatively, through the offices of the commission in Richmond. The commission may also permit speakers to register at the site and at the time of the public hearing and shall request the assistance of the local administrative officers in making suitable arrangements for such registration.

E. The chair or other member of the commission designated to preside over the proceedings shall select the site for the public hearing subsequent to the receipt of recommendations from the parties. Recommendations from the parties should be based upon a site's accessibility to residents of the areas and jurisdictions principally affected, its seating capacity, the adequacy of parking facilities, the availability of a public address system, and seating arrangements permitting the commission to have proper visual contact with the public.

F. The commission shall request the parties to cooperate in the preparation of the site for the public hearing and shall request that a minimum number of maps and exhibits be placed on display at the site in order that persons testifying may identify their residences, property, businesses, or other concerns in relation to the proposed issue.

G. The commission shall request the local jurisdiction within which the site for the public hearing is situated to make appropriate arrangements in order to assure the security and the orderliness of the proceedings.

H. The chair or the presiding member shall determine the sequence of speakers at a public hearing, but the sequence shall ordinarily conform to the sequence of their registration. The chair or presiding member may, however, vary the sequence of speakers in order that persons from all affected jurisdictions and areas, and those representing different perspectives, might have equal opportunity for the timely presentation of their comments.

I. The commission shall endeavor to allow any person or party wishing to speak at a public hearing an opportunity to do so. The chair or presiding member may establish time limits for the presentation of testimony as the chair or presiding member deems appropriate. The chair or presiding member may also rule testimony irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious. Proponents and opponents of a proposed action are encouraged to designate a chief spokesman for economy of time and for the avoidance of repetitious comment.

J. Any person or party testifying before the commission at the public hearing may extend their remarks in written form for subsequent submission. During the course of the public hearing, the commission shall establish a date by which the extended written comment must be received for consideration.

K. The commission may record by mechanical device, unless other arrangements are made, all testimony given during the public hearing but shall prepare a transcript of the recording only when it deems appropriate. The commission shall provide any person or party with a copy of the transcript or recording, if made, at a price sufficient to cover the expense incurred. The parties may arrange to provide a court reporter, at their expense. Where a court reporter is utilized, the commission shall receive one copy of the transcript.

L. The commission may, where it deems appropriate, consolidate two or more interlocal issues for purposes of a public hearing.