15.2-3531 - Voters' petition requesting consolidation agreement and referendum. - Virginia Statutes

§ 15.2-3531. Voters' petition requesting consolidation agreement andreferendum.

The voters of any locality whose governing body has not taken the initiativeunder § 15.2-3529, may require it to do so by filing a petition with thegoverning body. The petition shall be signed by not less than fifteen percentof the voters of the locality registered to vote as of January 1 of the yearin which the petition is filed, which number in no case shall be less than100, and shall ask the governing body in accordance with § 15.2-3529 toeffect a consolidation agreement with the localities named in the petitionand to petition the judge for a referendum on the question. All of thesignatures on the petition must have been made within twelve months. A copyof the petition of the voters shall also be filed with the judge of eachcircuit court having jurisdiction in the county or town or the judge of thecircuit court in the city. If the governing body within one year is unable,or for any reason fails, to perfect such consolidation agreement, then thejudge of the circuit court having jurisdiction in the county or town or thejudge of the circuit court of the city shall appoint a committee of fiverepresentative citizens of the locality to act for and in lieu of thegoverning body in perfecting the consolidation agreement and in petitioningfor a referendum.

When a consolidation agreement adopted under the provisions of this sectionproposes the creation of a consolidated city which will include at least oneexisting county, the petition shall ask for proceedings pursuant to §§15.2-3521 through 15.2-3528 prior to such referendum.

(Code 1950, § 15-222; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-1132; 1968, c. 634; 1975, c. 517;1979, c. 85; 1981, c. 78; 1988, c. 728; 1997, c. 587.)