Lovettsville, Town of
County of Loudoun
History of incorporation
Established by an Act of Assembly March 15, 1836.
Incorporated by Chapter 191 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1842.
Incorporated again by Chapter 184 of the Acts of Assembly of 1876.
Ceased to function as township a number of years and revised its activities by order of the Circuit Court on December 29, 1949.
Charter, 1842, c. 191.
Charter, 1876, c. 184; repealed 1968, c. 53.
Charter, 1968, c. 53; repealed 1983, c. 520.
Current charter
Charter, 1983, c. 520.
Amendments to current charter
2005, c. 553 (§ 4.1)
2015, c. 267 (§§ 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.2)
2022, c. 315 (§§ 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2 through 3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2)
Chapter 1. General Provisions.
§ 1.1 - Incorporation.
The inhabitants of the territory comprised within the present limits of the Town of Lovettsville, as such limits are now or may hereafter be altered and established by law, shall constitute a body politic and corporate, to be known and designated as the Town of Lovettsville, Virginia, and as such shall have perpetual succession, may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, contract and be contracted with. (1983, c. 520)
§ 1.2 - Corporate Limits.
The corporate limits or boundaries of the Town are those established in Deed Book 6M at Page 406, et seq., of the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia, as extended by the annexation decree of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, Virginia, entered on March 27, 1973, of record in the Clerk's Office of the Circuit Court for Loudoun County in Common Law Order Book 33 at Page 21, Deed Book 572 beginning at Page 545, by Final Order entered June 12, 1995, of record in the Clerk's Office in Common Law Order Book 102 at Page 0263 in At Law No. 16467 and in Deed Book 1371 at page 1964, et seq., and by Final Order entered December 22, 2006, in CL 43628, recorded among the land records of Loudoun County as Instrument Nos. 20070104-0000612 and 20070315-0019694, and the plat as 20070315-0019695, and by any orders of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County heretofore or hereafter entered. (1983, c. 520; 2015, c. 267; 2022, c. 315)
§ 1.3 - Corporate Seal.
The Town of Lovettsville may provide for the adoption of its corporate seal, which it may alter, amend or renew at its pleasure. (1983, c. 520; 2022, c. 315)
Chapter 2. Powers.
§ 2.1 - In General.
The Town shall have and may exercise all the powers and privileges conferred upon it by this charter, as well as all the powers and privileges conferred upon towns by the Constitution of Virginia and all other laws of the Commonwealth. All powers set forth in Chapter 9 (§ 15.2-900 et seq.) of Title 15.2 of the Code of Virginia, as now existing or as may be added to or amended from time to time, are hereby specifically conferred upon the Town. (1983, c. 520; 2015, c. 267; 2022, c. 315)
§ 2.2 - Eminent Domain.
The powers of eminent domain, which may be exercised by municipal corporations under the provisions of Title 15.2 (§ 15.2-100 et seq.) and Title 25.1 (§ 25.1-100 et seq.) of the Code of Virginia, are hereby conferred upon the Town. (1983, c. 520; 2015, c. 267; 2022, c. 315)
§ 2.3 - Acquisition of Land or Interest Therein for Exchange with Public Utility Company.
Whenever any public utility company owns any land or any easement, right-of-way or other interest in land which the Town deems necessary and intends to acquire for any public purpose, which land, easement, right-of-way or other interest in land owned by such public utility company is devoted to a public use, the Town may acquire by gift, purchase or by the exercise of its power of eminent domain additional or a like easement, right-of-way or interest in land adjacent to or approximately adjacent to such land needed and proposed to be acquired by the Town. The Town may then convey the same to the public utility company for use by such company in lieu of the land, easement, right-of-way or other interest in land theretofore owned by it but needed by the Town. The condemnation of such land, easement, right-of-way or other interest in land to be conveyed to any public utility company shall be governed by the procedures prescribed in this charter. (1983, c. 520; 2022, c. 315)
§ 2.4 - Water and Sewer Services.
A. Generally. The Town shall have the power and authority to acquire, establish, maintain, operate, extend and enlarge waterworks and sewage disposal plants within or without the corporate limits of the Town; and to establish and enforce reasonable rates, rules and regulations for the use of same, any or all of which rates, rules and regulations the Council may alter from time to time.
B. Rates. In operating public water and sewer services, the Town may charge a different rate for services furnished to customers outside the corporate limits of the Town from the rates charged for similar services to customers within the corporate limits.
C. Unpaid Charges. The Town may provide by ordinance that all unpaid water and sewer service charges and interest thereon shall constitute a lien on the real estate served by the water or sewer line through which the service is provided. (1983, c. 520; 2015, c. 267; 2022, c. 315)
§ 2.5 - Power to Incur Debts and Contract Loans.
A. The Council, within the limits of the Constitution of this Commonwealth and in accordance with the provisions of general law, may, in the name of and for the use of the Town, contract loans or cause to be issued certificates of debt, notes or bonds.
B. The Council shall have the power to negotiate temporary loans, in anticipation of taxes, for the purpose of paying current expenses of the Town, such loans to be evidenced by bonds or notes bearing interest at a rate permitted by general law for towns, and such bonds or notes shall be payable within one (1) year from the date of issue out of the current revenue of the year in which the same are issued. No such temporary loan shall in the aggregate exceed seventy-five (75%) percent of the Town's income of the previous year.
C. All bonds and other evidences of indebtedness of the Town shall be signed by the Mayor and countersigned by the Town Clerk. (1983, c. 520; 2022, c. 315)
Chapter 3. Mayor and Council.
§ 3.1 - Conduct of Municipal Elections.
All elections shall be conducted pursuant to and in accordance with the general laws governing the holding of elections in towns. (1983, c. 520; 2022, c. 315)
§ 3.2 - Council.
A. The legislative powers of the Town shall be vested in a Town Council, composed of six (6) members, who shall be elected as specified herein.
B. Council members shall be elected to four-year terms, on the date specified by general law for municipal elections, in the manner herein provided:
1. Three (3) Council members shall be elected in the municipal elections held in 1984, and in municipal elections held every four (4) years thereafter.
2. Three (3) Council members shall be elected in the municipal elections held in 1986, and in municipal elections held every four (4) years thereafter.
C. The Council members so elected shall qualify and take office on the date specified by general law for municipal elections, following their election, and shall continue to serve until their successors are duly elected, qualify and assume office.
D. Any person qualified to vote in Town elections shall be eligible for the office of Council member.
E. Vacancies in the Council, for whatever cause airising, shall be filed in accordance with general law. Council members appointed to fill vacancies on the Council shall have the rights, privileges, powers, duties and obligations of an elected member of the Council as provided in this chapter, or otherwise conferred by general law not inconsistent with this chapter.
F. The Council members in office at the time of the passage of this Act shall continue until the expiration of the terms for which they were elected or appointed, or until their successors are duly elected, qualify and assume office. (1983, c. 520; 2015, c. 267; 2022, c. 315)
§ 3.3 - Mayor.
A. Powers and Duties.
1. The Mayor shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Town and shall be recognized as the head of Town government for all ceremonial purposes, the purpose of military law and the service of civil process;
2. The Mayor shall have and exercise all power and authority conferred by general law on the mayors of towns not inconsistent with this charter;
3. The Mayor shall authenticate by signature such documents as the Council, this charter or the laws of the Commonwealth shall require;
4. The Mayor shall perform such other duties consistent with the Office of Mayor as may be imposed by the Council;
5. The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Council, but shall have no vote except in case of tie;
6. The Mayor shall have the power to veto resolutions, acts and ordinances of the Council, which resolutions, acts and ordinances may be passed over such veto by a two-thirds majority vote of the council;
7. The Mayor shall from time to time recommend to the council such measures as he may deem necessary for the welfare of the Town;
8. Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the Mayor shall have the authority to appoint such officers and committees as are necessary for the proper administration of the affairs of the Town but shall report each appointment to the Council for confirmation at the next meeting thereof following any such appointment; and
9. The Mayor shall see that the duties of the various Town officers are faithfully performed, and he shall have the power to suspend any such officer for misconduct in office or neglect of duty until the next regular or special meeting of the Council, when the decision of the Council shall be final. In the absence of an officer, the roles and responsibilities of said officer shall be executed by the Town Manager or a staff member.
B. Election. In each even-numbered year, on the date specified by general law for municipal elections, a Mayor for the Town shall be elected for a term of two (2) years. The person so elected shall so qualify and take office on the date specified by general law for municipal elections, following election. The Mayor shall continue to serve until a successor is duly elected, qualifies and assumes office.
C. Qualifications. Any person qualified to vote in Town elections shall be eligible for the Office of Mayor.
D. Vacancies. A vacancy in the Office of Mayor, for whatever cause arirising, shall be filled in accordance with general law. The person appointed to fill a vacancy in the Office of Mayor shall have the rights, privileges, powers, duties and obligations as provided in this chapter, or otherwise conferred by general law on the mayors of towns not inconsistent with this chapter.
E. The Mayor in office at the time of the passage of this Act shall continue in office until the expiration of the term for which the Mayor was elected, or until a successor is duly elected, qualifies and assumes office. (1983, c. 520; 2015, c. 267; 2022, c. 315)
§ 3.4 - Vice-Mayor.
A. The Council shall elect from among its members a Vice-Mayor, who shall preside at cCouncil meetings in the absence of the Mayor. Election of the Vice-Mayor shall be made at the organizational meeting of the Council following the regular election of the Mayor and Council members.
B. In the event of the disability or absence of the Mayor, the Office of Mayor may be filled and the Mayor's powers and duties discharged by the Vice-Mayor. (1983, c. 520; 2015, c. 267; 2022, c. 315)
§ 3.5 - Meeting.
A. All meetings of the council shall be public, unless a closed session is called according to general law. No official action shall be taken by the Council while in closed session.
B. The Council, by ordinance, shall adopt such rules as it may deem proper for the regulation of its proceedings and the time of its meetings. It shall hold at least such regular meetings as may be required by § 15.2-1416 of the Code of Virginia. Special meetings may be called at any time by the Mayor or by three (3) Council members, provided all Council members are actually notified of such meeting.
C. A majority of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Each Council member shall have one (1) vote. (1983, c. 520; 2015, c. 267; 2022, c. 315)
§ 3.6 - Compensation.
Compensation for Council members and the Mayor shall be set by the Council. Any increases in the compensation of the Mayor or Council members may become effective during such Mayor's or Council member's term of office. (1983, c. 520; 2022, c. 315)
Chapter 4. Town Government.
§ 4.1 - Town Officers.
A. Town Clerk. The Mayor shall appoint and the Council shall confirm the appointment of a Town Clerk who shall be the Clerk of the Council and shall keep the journal of its proceedings and shall record all ordinances and resolutions in a book or books kept for that purpose. All such records shall be public records, stored and filed at the Town's offices and open to inspection at any time during the Town's regular office hours. The Town Clerk shall serve at the pleasure of the town Council.
B. Town Treasurer. The Mayor shall appoint and the Council shall confirm the appointment of a Town Treasurer, who shall receive all money belonging to the Town and keep correct accounts of all receipts from all sources and of all expenditures. The Town Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of all license fees, taxes, levies and charges due to the Town and shall disburse the funds of the Town as the Council may direct. The Town Treasurer shall serve at the pleasure of the Council.
C. Town Manager. The Mayor shall appoint and the Council shall confirm the appointment of a Town Manager, who shall serve as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town. The Town Manager shall serve at the pleasure of the Council.
D. Other Town Officers. The Mayor shall appoint and the Council shall confirm the appointment of a Town Attorney, a Town Zoning Administrator, and such other town officers as may be deemed appropriate. Such officers shall serve at the pleasure of the Council, unless the Council shall provide otherwise.
E. Non-Officers. For staff not considered offices, the Town Manager shall hire and the Mayor and the Council may confirm the non-officers' employment. Requests for such confirmation may be initiated by the Mayor or any three (3) Council members and shall only be invoked prior to the non-officer's initial offer of employment.
F. Duties, Etc. Each officer shall have such duties as are specified by the Council not inconsistent with the Constitution and general laws of the Commonwealth and this charter, shall execute such bonds as may be prescribed by resolution of the Council, and shall receive such compensation as the Council may prescribe.
G. The same person may be appointed to more than one (1) office, provided, however, that no person may serve both as an officer of the Town and as Mayor or Council member except as otherwise provided in this charter or by general law. (1983, c. 520; 2005, c. 553; 2015, c. 267; 2022, c. 315)
§ 4.2 - Boards, Commissions and Committees.
A. Planning Commission. The Council shall appoint a Town Planning Commission that shall have such powers and duties as are provided by general law.
B. Board of Zoning Appeals. The Council shall appoint the members of the Board of Zoning Appeals for the Town, which shall consist of three (3) or five (5) members, and prescribe their terms of office and qualifications. The Board of Zoning Appeals shall have such powers and duties as are provided by general law.
C. Committees. The Council, in its discretion, may establish such committees, whether standing or ad hoc, as it may deem appropriate, to study and report to the council on those matters referred to such committees by the Council. The report of any such committee shall not be binding upon the Council, but shall be advisory only.
D. Membership. Except as otherwise provided by law, Council members and the Mayor are eligible to serve as members of any Town commission, committee or group and shall be entitled to participate fully as voting members of such commission, committee or group.
E. Compensation. The Council may provide for compensation to such of their boards, commissions or committees performing special work to the extent that may be reasonable and fair. (1983, c. 520; 2015, c. 267; 2022, c. 315)
§ 4.3 - Fiscal Control.
A. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Town shall begin on July 1 and end on June 30.
B. Fiscal Control. The Council shall have the power to control and manage the fiscal affairs of the Town and to make such ordinances, orders and resolutions relating to the same as it may deem necessary. After the close of each fiscal year, the Council shall cause to be made an independent audit of the accounts, books, records and financial transactions of the Town either by the Auditor of Public Accounts of the Commonwealth or by an independent certified public accountant to be selected by the Council. The report of such audit shall be filed within such time as the Council shall specify, and one (1) copy thereof shall always be available for public inspection in the Town's offices during the Town's regular business hours. (1983, c. 520; 2015, c. 267; 2022, c. 315)
Chapter 5. Miscellaneous.
§ 5.1 - Continuity.
A. All ordinances now in force in the Town, not inconsistent with this charter, shall remain in force until altered, amended or repealed by the Council.
B. The present officers of the Town shall continue in office at the pleasure of the Council, or until their successors have been duly appointed. (1983, c. 520; 2022, c. 315)
§ 5.2 - Historic Districts.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Council may establish one (1) or more historic districts within the Town for the purpose of promoting the general welfare, education and recreational pleasure of the public through the perpetuation of those general areas, individual structures or premises that have been officially designated by the Council as having historical or architectural significance. The establishment of historic districts shall be by amendment of the Town's zoning ordinance and consistent with the purposes, criteria and procedures set forth in § 15.2-2306 of the Code of Virginia. (1983, c. 520; 2015, c. 267; 2022, c. 315)
§ 5.3 - Severability.
If any part of this Act shall for any reason be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect or invalidate the remainder of the Act. (1983, c. 520)