The Town shall be governed by a Mayor and a Town Council composed of five councilmen, to be elected from the Town at Large. Councilmen shall be qualified electors of the Town, and shall serve for terms of four years, and until their successors are appointed or elected and qualified as provided by law. However, for the elections to be held in May 2002, the mayor and the two councilmen receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected for a term of four years, and the three councilmen receiving the next highest number of votes shall be elected for terms of two years. Thereafter, the mayor and all councilmen shall be elected for terms of four years so as to provide for staggered terms for the town council. (1972, c. 68; 2000, c. 224)
The terms of office for the Mayor and Town Councilmen shall begin after their election, and continue as is provided by the laws of the Commonwealth. (1972, c. 68)
The Mayor and Councilmen shall each, before entering upon the duties of their office, make oath or affirmation that they will truly, faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of their offices to the best of their abilities, so long as they shall continue therein. Such oath to be administered by the retiring Mayor, Vice-Mayor or the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Louisa County, Virginia. (1972, c. 68)
The Town Council shall elect from its members a Vice-Mayor, who shall serve, at the discretion of the Town Council and until a successor is appointed. (1972, c. 68)
The Mayor shall preside over the meetings of the Town Council and shall have the same right to speak and vote therein as other members of the Town Council, when they are equally divided. He shall be recognized as the head of the Town government for all ceremonial purposes, for the purposes of military law and for the service of civil processes. During the absence of the mayor or the inability of the Mayor to act, the Vice-Mayor shall possess the powers and discharge the duties of the Mayor. (1972, c. 68)
If both the Mayor and Vice-Mayor are unable to act, the Town Council shall, by a majority vote of the members present, elect from its members a person to serve as Acting Mayor until either the Mayor or Vice-Mayor is present and able to act. The person so elected shall possess the powers and discharge the duties of the Mayor during such period of time. Whenever it is necessary to elect an Acting Mayor pursuant to this section, in the absence of both the Mayor and Vice-Mayor, the Town Clerk or Acting Town Clerk shall call the meeting of the Town Council to order and shall preside until an Acting Mayor is elected. This shall not be construed to vest in the Town Clerk any of the powers and duties of the Mayor, except as expressly stated in this section. (1972, c. 68)
The Town Council shall be a continuing body, and no measures pending before such body, or any contract or obligation incurred, shall abate or be discontinued by reason of the expiration of the term of office or removal of any of its members. (1972, c. 68)
The Town Council shall have all powers and authority that are now or may hereafter be granted to councils of towns by the general laws of the Commonwealth and by this Charter, and the recital of special powers and authorities herein shall not be taken to exclude the exercise of any power and authority granted by the general laws of the Commonwealth to town councils, but not herein specified. (1972, c. 68)
The Town Council shall fix the time of their stated meetings, and they shall meet at least once a month. Special meetings may be called at any time by the Mayor or by three members of the Town Council; provided, that all members shall be duly notified a reasonable period of time prior to any special meeting. (1972, c. 68)
Three members of the Town Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. No vote taken at any meeting shall be reconsidered or rescinded at any subsequent special meeting unless at such special meeting there are as many members of the Town Council present as were present when such vote was taken. (1972, c. 68)
The Town Council shall establish its own rules of order and procedure, and may punish its own members and other persons for violations thereof. (1972, c. 68)
The Town Council is hereby authorized to fix the salaries of each of the members of the Town Council, members of board or commissions and all appointed officers and all employees of the Town, at a sum not to exceed any limitations placed by the laws and Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The salaries of the members of the Town Council shall not exceed one thousand two hundred dollars per year. (1972, c. 68)