                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

POWERS OF COUNTY VESTED IN BOARD OF SUPERVISORS; MEMBERSHIP, ELECTION, TERMS,
ETC., OF BOARD; VACANCIES; POWERS OF CHAIRMAN (§ 15.2-802)

The powers of the county as a body politic and corporate shall be vested in an
urban county board of supervisors, to consist of one member from each district
of such county and to be known as the board of supervisors (the board). Each
member shall be a qualified voter of his district and shall be elected by the
qualified voters thereof. In addition to the above board members, the voters
shall elect a county chairman who shall be a qualified voter of the county. No
person may be a candidate for county chairman at the same time he is a candidate
for membership on the county board from any district of the county. A quorum
shall consist of a majority of the board and the chairman shall be included and
counted.
		The county chairman shall be the chairman of the board and preside at the
meetings thereof. The chairman shall represent the county at official functions
and ceremonial events. The chairman shall have all rights, privileges, and
duties of other members of the board and such others, not in conflict with this
article, as the board may prescribe. In addition, the chairman shall have the
power to (i) call special meetings of the board in accordance with the
procedures and restrictions of § 15.2-1418, mutatis mutandis; (ii) set the
agenda for board meetings; however, any such agenda may be modified by an
affirmative vote of the board; (iii) appoint county representatives to regional
boards, authorities and commissions which are authorized in advance by the
board; however, any such appointment shall be subject to revocation by an
affirmative vote of a majority of all members elected to the board acting within
the 30-day period following that appointment; and (iv) create and appoint
committees of the board and name presiding members of such committees as
authorized by the board; however, any such committee or appointment shall be
subject to revocation by an affirmative vote of a majority of all members
elected to the board.
		At the first meeting at the beginning of its term and any time thereafter when
necessary, the board shall elect a vice-chairman from its membership who shall
perform the duties of the chairman in his absence.
		The supervisors and chairman first elected under the provisions of this
chapter shall hold office until January 1 following the next regular election
provided by general law for the election of supervisors. At such election their
successors shall be elected for terms of four years each.
		If the number of districts in any such county is increased by redistricting or
otherwise subsequent to a general election for supervisors, and such supervisors
have taken office, then the board shall adopt a resolution requesting a judge of
the circuit court for such county to call a special election for an additional
supervisor or supervisors in accordance with the increase in the number of
districts, such additional supervisor or supervisors to be elected from the
county at large, and such election shall be held within 45 days from the date of
such request. The qualifications of candidates and the election shall be as at
general law applying to special elections. Any supervisors thereby elected shall
hold office until January 1 following the next regular election provided by
general law for the election of members of the board, and at the next regular
election all supervisors of any such county shall be elected from districts as
provided by law.
		If a vacancy occurs on the board, the chief judge of the circuit court for
such county shall call a special election, in the district if the vacancy is of
a district supervisor, or in the county at large if the vacancy is of the
chairman, to be held not fewer than 45 nor more than 90 days after the
occurrence of the vacancy; however, if the vacancy occurs within 150 days prior
to a general election, such special election may be held on the general election
day; and if the vacancy occurs within 120 days prior to the date of a regular
election for the board of supervisors, such vacancy shall be filled by
appointment by the remaining members of the board within seven days of the
occurrence of the vacancy, which appointment shall be for the duration of the
term of office of the person whose absence from the board occasioned such
vacancy. The qualification of candidates and the election shall be otherwise as
at general law applying to special elections.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 15-384.17; 1960, c. 382; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-729; 1966,
c. 464; 1968, c. 797; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 158; 1972, c. 707; 1985, c. 138; 1994,
c. 148; 1997, c. 587; 2012, c. 396.