                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

HOW BIDS RECEIVED AND TO WHOM FRANCHISE AWARDED (§ 15.2-2102)

The presiding officer shall read aloud, or cause to be read aloud, a brief
summary of each of the bids that have been received, for public information, and
shall then inquire if any further bids are offered. If further bids are offered,
they shall be received. The presiding officer shall thereafter declare the
bidding closed. The presiding officer shall receive recommendations from the
staff relative to any bids received in advance and staff&#8217;s
recommendations, if any, on any bids received at the advertised council meeting.
After such other investigation as the council sees fit to make, the council
shall accept the highest bid from a responsible bidder and shall adopt the
ordinance as advertised, without substantial variation, except to insert the
name of the accepted bidder. However, the council, by a recorded vote of a
majority of the members elected to the council, may reject a higher bid and
accept a lower bid from a responsible bidder and award the franchise, right,
lease or privilege to the lower bidder, if, in its opinion, some reason
affecting the interest of the city or town makes it advisable to do so, which
reason shall be expressed in the body of the subsequent ordinance granting the
franchise, right, lease or privilege. The process described in this section may
run concurrently with any other advertisement or public ordinance requirements
of this title, or such requirements as may be contained in charters of such
cities or towns.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 15-730; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-310; 1997, c. 587; 2001, c.
498.