The governing body of each of the consolidating localities shall cause a copy of the consolidation agreement, or a descriptive summary of the agreement and a reference to the place within the locality where a copy of the agreement may be examined, to be published in each locality with which it is proposed to consolidate three times in a newspaper having a general circulation therein, with the first notice appearing no more than 35 days before and the third notice appearing no less than seven days before the adoption of the consolidated agreement in accordance with § 15.2-3502. A copy of the agreement shall be available for public inspection at the circuit court clerk’s office of each of the consolidating localities.