Evening star., 1946-02-06
Sends
Revised Charter
1oLegis|ature
Citizens Are Asked
To Oppose Measure
In Favor of New Bill

Nine revisions in the proposed
charter for incorporation of Ar
lington County were announced
today by Lawrence w. Douglas
chairman of the five-man commits
sion that drafted the measure for
presentation to the Virginia General
Assembly.
Mr.. Douglas said the revised char
ter already has been sent to county
Representatives in the Legislature.
Mr.. Douglas announcement fol-
lowed the appointment of a COM
mittee last night by the Arlington
Civic Federation to discuss charter
revisions and to determine If rep
resentatives of the federation would
make recommendations for changes
at House and Senate committee
hearings.
y Resolution Urges Opposition.
In resolution offered the fed
Grafton, Dr. Victor Meyers, member
of the federation Charter Commit
tee, declared that "it is apparent
that the Charter Commission has
no intention of changing any of the
major provisions requested by the
Civic Federation"
The resolution asked the organi-
zation to oppose passage of the
tentative bill by the Legislature in
favor of a different measure to be
prepared by another commission. 1t
was not adopted.
Civic group representatives and
individual citizens gained one major
point in the revisions, namely, the
right to select larger city council.
Majority Backs Larger Council.
At the third public hearing last
week majority of speakers sup
ported a Seven-member city govern
ing body, in addition to nonpartisan
primary elections.
No changes were made by the
commission respecting this last re-
quest, which has drawn country
wide support from different citizens
groups.
Other changes recommended by
the commission include a limita-
ton on the council with respect to
filling or yacating the Office of City
Manager to require majority vote
of all members.
Publication Provision
It also was provided that publica-
ton of ordinances may be given to
other newspapers than strictly local
publications if 1t is adjudged that
local papers do not have general cir
culation in the County.
In compliance with recommenda-
tions from majority of civic groups
represented at the three public
hearings, the commission also in
cluded a provision that copies of an
annual financial report shall be
made available by the City Man
ager upon request.
The date of submission of the
annual tentative budget also was
changed to make its deadline March
Is instead of February Is. The
budget itself was amended to in
clude expenditures and estimated
revenues for school purposes.
Bond Ordinance Ruling.
Another amendment concerned
bond ordinances, under class
debts, by which it was provided that
the ordinance could be for only one
project, rather than two as orig
inally provided.
Recognizing criticism of one por-
ton of the organizational setup of
the department of finance, the COM
mission eliminated the provision by
which the director of finance would
collect and pay to the city treasurer
all funds not payable directly to
the treasurer under general law pro-
visions.
Other changes included an added
clause, that no member on the coun-
Gil shall interfere with, or attempt
to influence the city manager in any
personnel matter upon which the
charter gives the manager exclusive
authority; changed the original
name of the Civil and Police Court
to Municipal Court and provided in
the enabling clause upon which the
charter can be voted by county citi-
zens to show the determination of
questions submitted to referendum