§ 3.5. Powers.

The board of supervisors shall be the policy determining body of the county and shall be vested with all rights and powers conferred on governing bodies by general law not inconsistent with this chapter. All powers vested in the county by this charter, and to counties generally by the Code of Virginia, shall be exercised by the board collectively except as otherwise provided in this charter, or in the Constitution of Virginia. In addition to the foregoing, the board shall have the following powers:

a.

To control and manage the fiscal affairs of the county and all property, real and personal, belonging to the county.

b.

To provide revenue for the county and appropriate the revenue for expenses, also to provide the annual assessments of taxable persons and property in the county, and it may adopt such ordinances, orders and bylaws relating to the powers of this charter as it shall deem proper and necessary.

c.

To adopt such ordinances, bylaws, orders and regulations as it may deem desirable to carry out the following powers which are hereby vested in them:

(1)

To provide for the preservation of the general health of the inhabitants of the county.

(2)

To provide and regulate county-owned or county-operated hospitals or nursing homes within the county limits.

(3)

To require and compel the abatement and removal of all nuisances within the county, at the expense of the person or persons causing the nuisance, or the occupant or owner of the ground where the nuisance may be.

(4)

To preserve public peace and good order; to prevent and quell riots, disturbances, disorderly assemblages, environmental hazards and shortages; and the board shall also have the power to adopt such additional ordinances as it may deem necessary for the general welfare of the county.

d.

To create, alter or abolish departments, bureaus, divisions, offices or agencies except where such bureaus, divisions, offices or agencies are specifically defined by this charter or general law.

e.

To create, alter and abolish commissions and advisory boards to assist the county in accomplishing its statutory responsibilities except where such commissions and advisory boards are specifically defined by this charter or general law.

f.

To provide for the number, title, qualifications, powers, duties, classification and compensation for all officers and employees of the county.

g.

To provide for the form of oaths who shall administer oaths and the amount and condition of surety bonds to be required of certain officers and employees of the county.

h.

To make such investigation relating to the financial affairs and internal operations of the county government as they may deem necessary.

i.

As a collective body, to make appointments to boards, commissions and other bodies as provided by law or board action provided that all such appointments shall serve as county-wide appointments and make decisions reflective of general county needs rather than magisterial district needs.

j.

To cause to be abandoned as a public road, a street or section of a street within a recorded subdivision upon a finding by the board that (i) continued operation of the street or section constitutes a threat to the public safety and welfare and (ii) alternate transportation routes will be readily available after abandonment of such street or section.

Nothing contained herein shall be construed to deprive the board of supervisors or county of any of the powers conferred upon them, either by general or special laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, except insofar as the same may be inconsistent with the provisions of this charter.