The Farmville Town Council is set to hold public hearings on an ordinance that would allow an electronic summons fee for those in criminal and traffic cases where the defendant is convicted of a violation and a 52-unit apartment project on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

The hearings are expected to be held at 6:45 p.m. at the Farmville Town Office, 116 N. Main St.

The proposed Ordinance No. 191, Electronic Summons System Fee; Amount; Administration, states that “in addition to any other fees prescribed by law, a fine in the amount of $5.00 in each criminal and traffic case in which the defendant is convicted of a violation of any statute of the Commonwealth or any ordinance of the Town in either the General District Court or Circuit Court of Prince Edward County or Cumberland County when the action that gave rise to the criminal charge or traffic violation occurred within the Town of Farmville.”

“The Clerk of Court in which the action is concluded shall collect the assessment and remit it to the Town Treasurer,” the ordinance continued. “The Treasurer shall disburse such funds to the Farmville Police Department for the purpose of funding software, hardware, and associated equipment costs for the implementation and maintenance of an electronic summons system in accordance with Section 17.1-279.1 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended.”

A portion of the code reads, “Any county, city, or town, through its governing body, may assess an additional sum not in excess of $5 as part of the costs in each criminal or traffic case in the district or circuit courts located where such cases are brought in which the defendant is charged with a violation of any statute or ordinance, which violation in the case of towns arose within the town.”

The hearing concerning the apartment project had initially been scheduled for the November council meeting, Town Mayor David Whitus said during the council’s meeting Nov. 14, but applicant Fred Pearson said he would be out of town on that day. Whitus said that Pearson requested that the council move the hearing to the December meeting.

The proposed apartment project would be on approximately 6 acres of land in the area of Vernon Street, located adjacent to Parkview Gardens, which is an 80-unit, multifamily apartment community.