Evening star., 1942-02-19
.CityCharter
Being Drafted
For Arlington
Medley and Fenwiek
Now at Work on
Permissive Legislation
BY ALEXANDER R. PRESTON.

A proposed charter for the incor-
poration of Arlington County, Va,
as city of about 10000 inhabitants
Is being prepared as an enabling
act by Senator William D. Medley
and Delegate Charles r. Fenwick,
both Of that county, for introduction
in the General Assembly during the
current session at. Richmond.
Before incorporation would be
brought about, however, it would
require the approval Of majority
Of the voters in referendum.
For the past several weeks the
Arlington legislators have been do
ing research work and drafting the
legislation with assistance by some
county officials. The legislation,
being local in application, probably
will be introduced in the House Of
Delegates by Mr.. Fenwick.
Number Of Points Expected.
Neither Senator Medley nor Mr..
Fenwick would discuss the details of
the charter for the proposed city, as
the draft Is not completed. It is
believed, however, that 1t would con-
tain most, If not all, of the features
Of charters outlined last week by a
special committee of the Arlington
Chamber of Commerce. The cham
ber'S board of directors received a
l2-point report on Incorporation
but the business men have not IA
vored or opposed the move.
Mr.. Fenwick declared, however,
that as many features Of the present
form of government as is possible
will be carried over into the charter
so as to reduce disruption of local
government functions to a mini
mum. He pointed out that Arling-
tons county manager form of gov
ernment has many features of q
city plan.
Senator Medley and Mr. Fenwick
said the drafting and introduction of
the legislation does not indicate their
own approval of incorporation into
a city. Both declared they have not
concluded whether it would be best
for Arlington to remain a county or
to become city.
The purpose of introducing the
legislation at the current session,
they said, was to safeguard the in
terests Of the county during the
next two years, until the next regu-
lar session Of the General Assembly
convenes.
Would Avoid Delay.
Conditions may arise during the
next two years which would make
the adoption of a city form of gov
ernment desirable or necessary, it
was pointed out, and unless legisla-
ton is enacted making this move
possible, it would require a delay
until 1914 before the General As
sembly could pass the required bill.
Considerable time has been re-
quired in drafting the legislation be-
cause it goes further than merely
authorizing the transfer from a
county to city. The law also must
contain the proposed charter to be
acted on by the voters and the
charter must provide for every
function of government Of the pro-
posed city.
The charter must specify what
officials will serve, their duties and
limitations, government depart
ments that would be created or
abolished and hundreds of other
provisions. The charters of several
other cities are being studied in the
preparation of the proposed Arling-
tton city plan.
The legislative deadline on the in
PRODUCTION of bills is effective Mon
day but will not apply to the pro-
posed charter bill because the dead
line applies to the introduction of
general legislation only. Indica-
tions at present are that the pro-
posed charter will have been drafted
sometime next week, however.