By Nesbitt Realty – a family business
Political organization and representation of various jurisdictions in Northern Virginia.
Alexandria is an independent city (Virginia cities have no county affiliation), which derives its governing authority from a charter granted by the Virginia General
Assembly. Changes in the structure and powers of the City government are made by amending the Charter. This requires action by the General Assembly, usually upon the request of the City Council, following public hearings. The present City Charter was granted in 1950; it was amended extensively in 1968, 1971, 1976, 1982, and 1983. By referendum in 1921, an overwhelming majority of the voters approved the adoption of the council-manager form of city government, which went into effect in September 1922. This form of government centralizes legislative authority and responsibility in the elected City Council.
Administrative authority and responsibility are held by the City Manager, who is appointed by the City Council. The City Council is composed of a Mayor and six Council members who are elected at-large for three-year terms. Any in-term vacancy is filled by a special election unless the vacancy occurs within six months of the end of the term, at which time a judicial appointment is made. The Mayor, who is chosen on a separate ballot, presides over meetings of the Council and serves as the ceremonial head of government. The Mayor does not have the power to veto Council action. Council members traditionally choose the person receiving the most votes in the election to serve as Vice Mayor. In the absence or disability of the Mayor, the Vice Mayor performs the mayoral duties. The Mayor receives a salary of $30,500, and other Council members receive a salary of $27,500 per year.
Council determines the needs to be addressed and the degree of service to be
provided by the administrative branch of the City government. Under Alexandria's Charter, the Council has power to:
Alexandria City Hall was built on a site designated for the market and city hall when Alexandria was founded in 1749. The original City Hall burned in 1871 the current structure was erected in 1874. This City Hall wraps around a central courtyard known as Market Square. When first constructed Alexandria City Hall also housed a Masonic Lodge, court facility, and police and fire stations. Today, the site only has municipal offices. Over the years the building has undergone several renovations and additions. Among the most recent and was the 1960-61 addition that filled the old courtyard. At that time, the building was reoriented toward the south with the new entrance facing King Street and Market Square, an open, landscape plaza with central fountain in the current Market Square. In1981, further renovations linked the 1871 building and the 1961 addition with new elevators, stairs and corridors.
The plaque reads
Alexandria Washington Lodge No. 22 AF & AM Chartered AD 1788 Destroyed by Fire May 19, AD 1871 Rebuilt AD 1874 Adolf Cluss Architect
