CHAPTER 332
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 3.2, 3.4, as amended, 4.1, and 6.1 of Chapters 629 and 674 of the Acts of Assembly of 2005, which provided a charter for the City of Waynesboro, relating to elections and appointments; council, city manager, and school board.
[H 1311]
Approved April 11, 2022
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 3.2, 3.4, as amended, 4.1, and 6.1 of Chapter 629 and 674 of the Acts of Assembly of 2005 is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 3.2. Composition and election of council; vacancies.
(a) The council shall consist of five (5) members, who
shall be voted at large one of whom shall be a resident of Ward A, one a
resident of Ward B, one a resident of Ward C, one a resident of Ward D, and one
a member at large who may be a resident of any ward, whose term of office
each, except as hereinafter fixed, shall be for the term of four (4) years.
The member at large shall be elected by the qualified voters at large, and the
four ward members shall be elected only by the qualified voters of their
respective wards. At the municipal election held in 2006 2022,
and every four (4) years thereafter, two (2) council members shall be elected,
one from each ward having a council member whose term is expiring, who shall
serve for a term of four (4) years and thereafter until their successors shall
have been elected and qualified. At the municipal election held in 2008
2024, and every four (4) years thereafter, three (3) council members shall
be elected, one from each ward having a council member whose term is expiring,
and one member-at-large member at large, who shall serve for a
period of four (4) years and thereafter until their successors have been
elected and qualified. Municipal elections shall be held and conducted at the
time and in the manner provided for by general law. The persons elected shall
take office July January 1 of following the year in
which they are elected.
(b) Vacancies in the council shall be filled within thirty (30) days, for the unexpired terms, by a majority vote of the remaining council members except as otherwise provided by general law.
§ 3.4. Organizational rules; election of mayor.
(a) The city council shall assemble for an organizational
meeting at its first regular session in July 2022, and, effective January
2023, in January each year for the purposes set forth in § 15.2-1416 of the
Code of Virginia, at which time the newly elected council members, after first
having taken oaths prescribed by law, shall assume the duties of the office.
Thereafter, the council shall meet at such times as may be prescribed by
ordinance or resolution, except that they shall regularly meet not less than
once each month. The mayor, any member of the council, or the city manager may
call special meetings of the council at any time (on at least twelve (12) hours
written notice), with the purpose of said the meeting stated
therein, to each member served personally or left at such member's usual place
of business or residence. No business other than that mentioned in the call
written notice shall be considered at such meeting, except upon the consent
of no fewer than four-fifths (4/5) of the members of the council.
(b) All meetings of the council shall be public except, if otherwise authorized by general law. Any citizen may have access to the minutes and records thereof at all reasonable times.
(c) The council shall elect one of its members as chairman
mayor, who shall be ex officio mayor chair of all meetings, and
one of its members as vice mayor, who shall be ex officio vice chair.
(d) The mayor shall be elected by the council for a term of two (2) years and shall preside at meetings of the council and perform such other duties consistent with the office as may be imposed by the council. The mayor shall have a vote and voice in the proceedings, but no veto. The mayor shall be the official head of the city but shall have no jurisdiction or authority to hear, determine, or try any civil or criminal matters. In times of public danger or emergency, the mayor, or during the mayor's absence or disability, the city manager, may take command of the police and maintain order and enforce the laws, and for this purpose, may deputize such assistant police officers as may be necessary. During absence or disability, except as above provided, the city manager's duties shall be performed by another member appointed by the council. The mayor shall authenticate by signature such instruments as the council, this Charter, or the laws of the state shall require.
(e) On the day of the first regular meeting in July
January following the regular municipal election and organization of the
council, or as soon thereafter as may be practicable, the council shall elect a
city manager, city clerk, city attorney, city assessor, and such other officers
as may come within their jurisdiction, each of whom shall serve at the pleasure
of the council, provided that the council may elect the city clerk, city
manager, city attorney, city assessor, and such other officers for terms of
one year two years each, beginning July January 1,
2023, subject to removal by the council for cause, and in no event shall
the council elect any officer for a term extending beyond June 30
December 31 next succeeding each regular biennial municipal election for
members of the council.
§ 4.1. Vesting of executive and administrative powers of city; appointment, term and compensation of city manager.
The administrative and executive powers of the city, including
the power of appointment of officers and employees, are vested in an official
to be known as the city manager, who shall be appointed by the council each
year on July January 1, or as soon thereafter as practicable, for
a term of not exceeding one year two years unless sooner removed
by the council upon proven charges preferred for malfeasance or misfeasance,
neglect of duty, or incompetency. The city manager shall receive such
compensation as shall be fixed by the council and shall devote all time to the
business of the city.
§ 6.1. School board; generally.
(a) The school board shall be composed of five (5) members, to be elected from the qualified voters of the city at large, one of whom shall be a resident of Ward A, one a resident of Ward B, one a resident of Ward C, one a resident of Ward D, and one member at large who may be a resident of any ward. The member at large shall be elected by the qualified voters at large, and the four ward members shall be elected only by the qualified voters of their respective wards. Their terms shall be for four (4) years or until their successors have been elected and qualified, except that all elections to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired term.
(b) At the municipal election held in 2006 2022
and every four (4) years thereafter, two (2) school board members shall be
elected for terms of four (4) years, one from each ward from which a council
member is simultaneously elected to a full term. At the municipal election held
in 2008 2024 and every four (4) years thereafterward
thereafter, three (3) city school board members shall be elected for terms
of four (4) years, one from each ward from which a council member is
simultaneously elected to a full term and one member at large. Municipal
elections shall be held and conducted at the time and in the manner provided
for by state law. The persons elected shall take office on July
January 1 of following the year in which they are elected.
(c) Vacancies on the school board shall be filled within thirty (30) days, for the unexpired term, by a majority vote of the remaining school board members until an election can be held in accordance with general state law.
(d) Any person qualified to vote in the city shall be eligible to be a member of the school board.
(e) Compensation for school board members shall be as prescribed by law.
(f) The organizational meeting of the school board shall take
place on each July January 1, or as soon thereafter as may be
practicable.
(g) The school board shall be a body corporate under the designation, "Waynesboro School Board," by which name it may sue and be sued, contract and be contracted with, and purchase, take, hold, lease, and convey school property, both real and personal. The title to all public school property within the corporate limits of the city shall be vested in the Waynesboro School Board. By mutual consent of the school board and the council of the city, the title to the school property may vest in the city.