§62.1-128. Authority created. - The Virginia Port Authority, hereinafter referred to as the Authority, is created as a body corporate and as such shall have, and is hereby vested with, the powers and duties hereinafter conferred in this chapter. (Code 1950, §62-106.1; 1952, c. 61; 1954, c. 667; 1958, c. 174; 1968, c 659; 1970, c 171; 1981, c 589.)
§62.1-129. Board of Commissioners; members and officers; Executive Director; agents and employees. - All powers, rights and duties conferred by this chapter, or other provisions of law, upon the Authority shall be exercised by the Board of Commissioners of the Virginia Port Authority, hereinafter referred to as Board or Board of Commissioners. The Board shall consist of the State Treasurer and eleven members appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The terms of member of the Board of Commissioners appointed or reappointed by the Governor on or after January 1, 1981, shall be for five years. Any appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term. Members of the Board shall receive their expenses and shall be compensated at the rate provided in §2.1-20.3 for each day spent on business of the Board. No member appointed by the Governor shall be eligible to serve more than two successive terms. A person heretofore or hereafter appointed to fill a vacancy may be appointed to serve two additional terms. Beginning with those members of the Board of Commissioners appointed or reappointed by the Governor on or after January 1, 1981; (i) appointments shall be made by the Governor in such a manner as to ensure the widest possible geographical representation of all parts of the Commonwealth, and (ii) no resident of the Cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, or Virginia Beach shall be eligible for appointment or reappointment to the Board of Commissioners if his appointment or reappointment would increase or maintain the number of members of the Board of Commissioners residing in such cities above the number of three. One of the members appointed or reappointed from the cities previously mentioned in this section shall be a resident of the City of Portsmouth or the City of Chesapeake, one of the members appointed or reappointed shall be a resident of the City of Norfolk or the City of Virginia Beach, and one of the members appointed or reappointed shall be a resident of the City of Newport News or the City of Hampton.
The Board shall elect from its membership a chairman and vice-chairman and may also elect from its membership, or appoint from its staff, a secretary and treasurer and prescribe their powers and duties.
The Board of Commissioners shall appoint the chief executive officer of the Authority, who shall not be a member of the Board, who shall be known as the Executive Director and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Executive Director's compensation from the Commonwealth shall be fixed by the Board in accordance with law. This compensation shall he established at a level which will enable the Authority to attract and retain a capable Executive Director.
The Board may also appoint from the staff an assistant secretary and an assistant treasurer, who shall, in addition to other duties, discharge such functions of the secretary and treasurer, respectively, as may be directed by the Board. (Code 1950, §62-106.2; 1952, c. 61; 1954, c. 667; 1956, c. 207; 1958, c. 174; 1968, c. 659; 1970, c. 171; 1978, c. 655; 1980, c. 728; 1981, c. 589; 1983, cc. 218, 298, 338; 1987, c. 688.)
§62.1-130. Powers and duties of Executive Director. - The Executive Director shall employ or retain such other agents or employees subordinate to the Executive Director as may be necessary, subject to the Board's approval. The Executive Director shall also exercise such of the powers and duties relating to ports conferred upon the Board as may be delegated to him by the Board, including powers and duties involving the exercise of discretion. The Executive Director shall also exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be lawfully delegated to him, and such powers and duties as may be conferred or imposed upon him by law. (Code 1950, §62-106.3; 1952, c. 61; 1954, c. 667; 1968, c. 659; 1981, c. 589.)
§62.1-131. Office and branch offices; title to property. - The Authority shall, in the Hampton Roads Area, have and maintain its principal office, at which all of its records shall be kept, and from which its business shall be transacted. It may, if necessary, establish a branch office or offices within or without the Commonwealth or the United States. The title to all property of every kind belonging to the former Hampton Roads Port Commission or the former State Port Authority of Virginia or the former Division of Ports Department of Conservation and Development, shall be vested in the Commonwealth of Virginia for the Virginia Port Authority. (Code 1950, §62-106.4; 1952, c. 61; 1958, c. 174; 1968, c. 659; 1970, c. 171; 1981, c. 589.)
§62.1-132. Local authorities subordinate to Authority. - Any conflict between any authority granted to the several port cities and towns or other entities of this Commonwealth, or the exercise of that authority, and the exercise of the authority granted to the Board of Commissioners under this chapter shall be resolved in favor of the
