White Stone, Town of
County of Lancaster
History of incorporation
Incorporation, Circuit Court of Lancaster County, May 19, 1953.
Current charter
Charter, 1973, c. 96.
Amendments to current charter
1975, c. 96 (§ 4)
1976, c. 373 (§ 6 [added])
2023, c. 71 (§ 4)
§ 1. Incorporation.
The inhabitants of the territory comprised within the limits of the town of White Stone, as such limits are now, or may hereafter be altered or established by law, shall constitute and continue a body politic and corporate, to be designated as the town of White Stone, and as such shall have and may exercise all powers which are now or hereafter may be conferred upon or delegated to towns under the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as fully and completely as though such powers were specifically enumerated herein, and no enumeration of particular powers by this charter shall be exclusive, and shall have, exercise and enjoy all the rights, immunities, powers and privileges and be subject to all the duties and obligations now appertaining to and incumbent on said town as a municipal corporation and shall have perpetual succession, may sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, contract and be contracted with, and may have a corporate seal which it may alter, renew, or amend at its pleasure by proper ordinance. (1973, c. 96)
§ 2. The boundaries of the town shall be, unless and until changed in the manner prescribed by law, the same as set forth in an order of the Circuit Court of Lancaster County, Virginia, on May 19, 1953, and set out in the 1953 Common Law Order Book, at page 87, in the clerk's office of the Circuit Court of Lancaster County, Virginia. (1973, c. 96)
§ 3. Powers.
All of the powers set forth for municipal corporations in §§ 15.1-837 through 15.1-915 of the Code of Virginia, as in force on January 1, 1973, are hereby specifically conferred upon the town of White Stone; provided, that the power to borrow money shall not be exercised for any project unless five members of Council, or the mayor and four members of Council, agree to the use of such power for such project. (1973, c. 96)
§ 4. Election of council and mayor.
There shall be elected by the qualified voters of the town of White Stone a mayor and seven council members. The mayor and seven council members so elected shall constitute the town council. The council members and the mayor shall be elected in even-numbered years at the time of the November general election for staggered terms of four years. The council members and the mayor whose terms would expire July 1, 2022, or July 1, 2024, shall remain in office until the first business day of January 2023 or January 2025, as applicable, following the general election in November 2022 or November 2024. The mayor and council members shall enter upon the duties of their respective offices on the first business day in January succeeding their election and shall continue in office until their successors are elected and qualified. (1973, c. 96; 1975, c. 96; 2023, c. 71)
§ 5. Ratification of ordinances and resolutions.
All ordinances and resolutions heretofore made and adopted by the town of White Stone, not in conflict with this charter or other laws of the Commonwealth shall be and remain in full force and effect until altered, amended or repealed by the Council of the town of White Stone. (1973, c. 96)
§ 6. Board of Zoning Appeals.
Notwithstanding any provision in Title 15.1, Chapter 11 of the Code of Virginia, to the contrary, the council shall have the power to appoint the members and fill vacancies of the Board of Zoning Appeals which may be established for the town. (1976, c. 373)