Virginia attorney general: Urbanna mayor can vote in council proceedings

by Tom Chillemi

Virginia’s Attorney General Mark R. Herring has issued his opinion that Urbanna’s mayor “is authorized to vote in proceedings of the council in the same fashion as other members of the council.”

The town council had voted earlier this year to seek an opinion of the attorney general after town council’s attorney, Andy Bury, told council that he had discovered that due to the town’s voting structure the mayor was not permitted to vote as a member of council.

On Jan. 28, Bury told council that according to the town’s charter, the town council is Urbanna’s governing body and the mayor is not a member of town council. This is due to the town’s election structure, Bury explained, and the town’s charter provides that the mayor is elected by town voters. Town voters choose six council members and vote separately for a mayor.

The alternative method for choosing a mayor is for a town council to vote to choose a mayor from the members of council, said Bury. “Then the mayor has the right to vote….