The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-15
OUR CITY CHARTER.
IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS ADOPT.
ED BY THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
THE COUNCIL TO Re COMPOSED OF TWO
ERANCHES-THEB BONDED DEBT LINZ
lTED--TliE MAYOR GIVEN A VETO
powER-DUTIEs OF. THE CITY
CLERK. TREASURER, AND
HIGH CONSTABLE.

a oia 10 amend the Charter or the c1tV OF
Richmond.
I. Be 1t enacted by the General Assembly,
That sections ., 12. Il, l6, Is, II, 1s, 81, 40,
+ &c. 67. and lo3 or an act entitled an act pro-
rding charter for the city of Richmond,
approved May Path, 1870, as amended by the
acts approved July 11th. 1870, March Goth,
1871. and March 29th, 1873, be amended and
reenacted SO as to read as follows: -..
AparSlsrR ALTON AND GOVERNMENT OF TIE
CITY.
80. The administration and government
of the said city shall be vested in one princ-
pal officer, to be styled the mayor; two
| boards. to be called respectively the Common
| Council and Board of Aldermen of the city of
| Richmond: and in such other boards and
| officers AS arc hereinafter provided for.
| l.. In caSe Of the absence or inability OF
| tie msyor. the president Of the Board of AL
dermen shall possess The same powers and
| DISCHARGE the municipal duties OF the mayor
during such absence or inability.
| TWO BRANCHES OF TIE COUNCIL PROVIDED.
Il. The Council of the city Of Richmond
shall be formed of two distinct branches.
| One Of these shall be called the Common
Council. and shall consist OF five members
! from each ward, to be elected every two
| years: the other shall be called the Board OF
Aldermen, and shall consist of three men,
| bers from each ward, 10 be elected every
| four wears. The members of the Board Of
| Common Council and Of the Board Of
! Aldermen shall be residents of their re-
| spectire wards, and shall not be less
| than twen,y-one years of age. They shall
| be elected by the electors Of their respective
wards. Upon the assembling Of the men,
| bers Of the Board of Aldermen so elected
| they shall be divided into two equal classes,
to be numbered by lot as the Board may de-
termine. The term of service of the mem.
bers OF the first class shall expire with that
of the members of the Common Council
elected at the first election after the passage
| of this act, and the term of service Of the
members of the second class shall expire with
| that Of the members of the Common Council
| elected at the second election after the pass.
age of this act, and this alienation shall con-
| tinue, so tbat one-half of the members of the
| Board of Aldermen may be chosen every TWO
| years.
HOW VACANCIES IN TIE COUNCIL SHALL BE
PILED.
IS. When any vacancy shall occur IN elther
branch. by death, resignation, removal from
ward, failure to qualify, or from any other
| cause the branch in which such vacancy occurs
Il -
| vacancy until the next election for members
of the Council which may be held in the
city, when the vacancy shall be filled by eiec-
ton.
TIE PRESIDENTS OF THE TWO BRANCHES.
16. Each branch of the Council shall elect
| one of its members to act as president, VINO
shall preside at its meetings, and continue IN
office for two years; and when from any
cause he shall be absenta president pro tenn
pore shall be appointed, who shall preside
during the absence Of the president. The
president, or the president pro tem,pore, who
Shall preside when the proceedings OF pre-
rious meeting are read, shall sign tue same.
The president of each branch shall have
power at any time TO call meeting of his
branch OF the Council; and in case of his ab'
sence, sickness. disability, or refusal, either
branch may be convened by the order, in
writing, OF any three members OF the branch
RULES OF THE COUNCIL.
! II. Each branch shall have authority tc
adopt such rules and to appoint such officers
and clerks as it may deem proper for the re
guation of its proceedings, and for the con
Tenient transaction of business; to compe
| the attendauce of absent members; to pun
ish its members for dsorderly behavior
, ,, and by vote of two-thirds of its members
10 eynei a member for malfeasance or mis-
feassnce in office. Each branch shall keep
journal of its proceedings, and its meetings
Shall be opeu except When the public welfare
' shall require secrecy.
1S. A majority of the members OF eacf
branch shall constitute quorum Tor Lit
" transaction of business. On all ordinance:
or resolutions appropriating money exceed
ing the sum Of one hundred dollars, lnpos
ing taxes, or authorizing the borrowing o
money. the yeas and nays shall be entered
I On the journal Of each branch respectively
. NJ vote shall be reconsidcred or re
a scinded at any special meeting, unless
). at such special meeting there be present al
:. large number of members as were presen
D when such vote was taken. No ordinanc!
| or resolution appropriating money exceed
ino the sum of one thousand dollars, lmpos
J ING taxes. or authorizing the borrowing o
: money. shall be passed BY the two branche
, ON the same day, nor shall any such ordl
nance or resolution be valid unless ut ieas
r three days intervene between its passage D!
g the said branches respectively.
D PUBLICATION OF ORDINANCES, &C.
81. No ordinance hereafter passed by tn
e Citv Council for the violation of which any
e penalty is imposed, shall take effect until tn
same shall have been published for i've day
successiyely in one of the daily newspaper
, Of said city. to be designated by said Coun
, cil A record or entry made by the clerk
/ said city, or q copy of such record or entry
:, duly certified by him, shall be pr'ma tac,'
evidence of the time of such first publca
tion: and all laws, regulations, ana ordl
nances of the City Council may be read II
evidence in all courts ofjustice and in all pro
\ ceedipes before any officer, body, or boart
7 in which it shall be necessary to refer thereto
/ either from copy thereof, certified by the
5 clerk of the said city, or from the voMlne o
, ordinances printed by authority OIL the ci'.
Council.
CITY TREASURER.
40. The said treasurer shall receive al
moneys belonging to the city, and snail keel
his office in some place designated Dy tos
Council. He shall have the custody OF th'
corporate seal. He shall keep bus DOCKS ant
accounts in such manner as the CITY Counci
may prescribe, and such books and account
shall always be subject to the inspection
the mayor and any member of the City Coun
Gil, or any committee or committees Thereon
: THE CITY CLERK.
&c. The said city clerk shall attend the
meetings Of the Common Council and keeF
a record Of its proceedings He shall keeI
all papers that by the provisions Of this act
or by the direction Of the City Council, OF
} either of it's branches, are required to be kept
or fled with him. 1t shall also be his duty
! TO make and present to the Mayor a tran.