Going shopping for information at the
Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System
(http://leg1.state.va.us/lis.htm) OH! I love the prices here....it's
all free!!!
On this first page are 4 subsections
1. 2009 Session
2. Searchable Databases
3. Other Sessions
4. Across Sessions
I think I'll start in Section 4.
“Across Sessions” today. And I'll go to the isle labeled “Subject
Index – since 1995”. So many choices. This is a huge list of
items to choose from. I think I'll go to the section labeled
“Charters”.
Oh, boy! This looks like it is going to
be fun.
The first question I want to find the
answer for is “Since 1995, how many times has Christiansburg
changed or modified it's Charter a grand total of ONE (1) time. This
occurred in the 1999 Session and was addressed as HB1627.
House Bill No. 1627 was supported by
Shuler and Griffith: Senator: Marye and the results
(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?991+ful+HB1627)
noted here (click on the Full Text link on the page) shows how this
process is accomplished in writing. This gives the reader some good
information as to exactly what portion of the charter was changed and
how it was changed.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 2.08 as amended of Chapter 240 of the Acts of
Assembly of 1954 is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 2.08. Eligibility of Mayor and Councilmen for
Remunerative Position.
The mayor and no or any member of the town
council during his or her tenure of office as such shall not be
eligible to for any remunerative office, position,
or employment to be filled by the council by election or
appointment with the town, except that a member of the
council appointed to a board or commission may be compensated as a
member of such.
Going through this
list, you can see that many jurisdictions change their Charters in
order to deal with issues that arise and as changes occur due to
growth, new knowledge, and citizen concerns. Many of these are
proactive changes that provide the Town the power to protect itself
from future issues. And, a lot is just cleaning up the Charter to
more clearly reflect State Law.
Just
scanning through some of the Charter changes that have been done by
other Towns (I excluded Cities and Counties), I found that
Christiansburg is not the only place where residents want elections
moved to November:SB 907: Charter; Town of
Timberville. Moves the regular municipal election date for
the mayor and town council from May to November. The current mayor
and town councilmen will have their terms extended by six months.
HB240: Charter; Town of Troutville.
Changes local elections from May to November.
HB7: Charter; Town of Brodnax.
Provides that town elections shall be held at the time of the
November general election, extends terms of council members from 2 to
4 years and provides for staggered terms.
HB1157: Town of Stuart; charter.
Provides for staggered four-year terms of office for the mayor
and town council members. The regular municipal election date for the
mayor and town council is moved from May to November. The mayor and
council members elected at the regular election in May 2006 will
serve a term of office until December 31, 2008.
HB871: Charter; Town of Altavista.
Shifts the time of council elections to November; allows council
salaries to be set in accordance with the provisions of general law;
eliminates certain supermajority voting requirements; deletes
provisions related to the town sergeant and the school board; and
makes numerous technical changes. This bill contains an
emergency clause.
HB2176: Charter; Town of Stanley.
Shifts council elections from May to November and deletes
outdated provisions.
SB736: Charter; Town of Floyd. Moves
the election date for the mayor and town council from May to
November. The current mayor and town council members will have their
terms reduced by six months.
SB284: Charter; Town of Brookneal.
Changes the date of the Town's municipal elections from May to
November. The bill provides for an emergency enactment.
Some go a bit farther in clarifying some of the issues related to elections and town officials:
HB2406: Charter; Town of Coeburn.
Provides that candidates for council shall not be identified on
the ballot by party affiliation.
HB550: Charter; Town of
Purcellville. Provides that if a council vacancy occurs prior to
the midpoint of the term, there shall be an election at the next
regular council election to fill the remaining two years of the term.
Also, council is given authority to appoint an architectural review
board, which shall be responsible for the review and implementation
of architectural design standards for all commercial and overlay
districts.
SB934: Charter; Town of Blacksburg.
Provides that candidates for town council shall not be identified
on the ballot by political affiliation. This is consistent with the
town's current practice of nonpartisan council elections.
SB1: Charter; Town of Vienna.
Updates old code references, provides that candidates for town
offices shall not be identified on the ballot by political
affiliation, removes salary cap for mayor and members of council,
deletes an outdated provision that allows the town clerk to serve as
the clerk of the municipal court, and clarifies that the town manager
need not be domiciled in the town at the time of, and for six months
after, his appointment.
Nor, is Christiansburg the only place with Town Charter that is out of date. However, they may become the LAST place:
SB 215: Charter; Town of Narrows.
Makes several technical amendments to bring the charter in
conformance with general law.
HB177: Charter; Town of Appomattox.
Clarifies the duties of the town manager and the town mayor. The
bill also makes a technical change.
B1246:Charter; Town of Leesburg.
Provides that the town may develop an affordable housing program
with Loudoun County; grants the town authority to adopt certain codes
of technical regulations; and, allows the town to create
architectural control districts and develop design standards for such
districts.
SB503: Town of Honaker; charter.
Provides a new charter for the town. The new charter contains
provisions typically found in town charters and does not grant
unusual powers. The bill contains an emergency clause.
SB405: Charter; Town of Elkton.
Repeals the existing town charter and provides a new charter
containing powers typically granted to towns.
HB1121: Charter; Town of
Purcellville. Allows the town to appoint one non-resident
to the board of architectural review.
SB1175: Charter; Town of Onley.
Provides a new charter for the town and repeals the existing
charter, adopted in 1950.
SB345: Charter; Town of Clifton
Forge. Repeals the charter of the former City of Clifton Forge
and grants a new charter to the Town of Clifton Forge. The charter
grants powers typically found in municipal charters and continues the
council for the former city as the council for the new town.
SB285: Charter; Town of Chatham.
Provides for the powers of the chief of police and police force,
corrects outdated references regarding election dates, provides that
the mayor and council members may receive an annual salary not to
exceed $1,200 and $600, respectively, states that the town clerk
shall serve at the pleasure of the council and deletes numerous
outdated provisions. The bill provides for an emergency enactment.
SB885: Charter; Town of Wise.
Provides a new charter for the town of Wise, in Wise County. The
new charter contains provisions typically found in town charters and
does not grant unusual powers.
SB788: Charter; Town of Smithfield.
Updates the town boundaries; grants authority to construct, own and
operate community and convention centers and similar facilities, and
to charge fees for the use thereof; and clarifies that members of
council serve four-year staggered terms.
SB745: Charter; Town of Bluefield.
Replaces the 1930 town charter with an updated version. The new
charter grants powers typically held by Virginia towns.
SB37: Charter; Town of Scottsville.
Provides a new charter for the Town of Scottsville and repeals
the existing charter. The new charter grants general powers available
to all Virginia towns and updates many outdated provisions from the
original charter.
Maybe I'm missing something here but I thought the concept of being Progressive meant being a leader. It is clear to me that Town Government is clearly leading the way in the "Wait and See" aspect of government but failing miserably in taking a proactive approach to taking care of citizens by insuring that the Town Charter and Town Codes are up to date, consistent with current state laws, and serve to protect the interest of citizens. Why is it that Christiansburg Town Council hasn't already take care of this? Too much work? Didn't know about the problems? Don't want to make changes to a system that "works so well"?
Take the time to review some of what other Towns have done and you will see they have made changes to make their towns better, to preserve those things which the citizens values, to encourage positive changes that will help the town as a whole, that gives the Town the ability to truly encourage economic development/educational opportunities. Look at some of the things that could be done and those that you know shouldn't be done here. Then start asking questions AND demanding answers.