City Council of City of Emporia v. Newsome

In this appeal, City Council of the City of Emporia (Council) challenges consolidation proceedings initiated under the provisions of Code § 15.1-1132 (Cum. Supp. 1980). 2

Pursuant to that statute, the required number of qualified voters in the City of Emporia and Greensville County filed petitions asking their respective governing bodies to perfect an agreement consolidating the City and the County and to petition the judge of the circuit court for a referendum on the question. Copies of the petitions were filed with the judge in July 1978.

The governing bodies failed to reach agreement within…