Evening star., 1946-10-13
Motion 10 Gust
anrahan Loses
Byvote
De Lushmutt,,s Plan
Would End Managers
Term December 81

IGFm 16(SIIiUSI =
A move to do away with the serv-.
fees of Arlington County Manager
Frank C. Hanrahan was defeated
yesterday by 3-2 vote of the county
board.
The ballots to oust him were cas-
by Basil De Lashmritt and Chairman
Edmund D. Campbell. Favoring
MIR. Hanrahan's retention were F.
Freeland Chew, Leo Lloyd and Mrs.
Elizabeth Magruder
Mr.. De Lashmutt introduced a
resolution at the regular meeting OF
the board at the courthouse that
Mr.. Hanrahan be notified his term
would expire as of midnight, De-
cember 81. The move was seconded
by Mr.. Campbell.
Before voting all five members
praised Mr.. Hanrahan's decade of
service to Arlington. The county
manager was appointed to the post
on June l., 1886. Before that he
had been city manager OF Ports
mouth, Va. and with the United
States Public Works Administration.
Took Six-month Leave.
Within the last year, Mr.. Hanra-
han took six-month leave of alb
sence because of i'll health and it
was believed his health and his age
-62-probably influenced Mr.. De
Lashmutt's action.
Mr.. De Lashmutt said he had no
criticism OF the county managers
past performances but believed a
change in that Office for the COM
ing year would be in the best inter-
ests of all concerned.
Virginia law requires the county.
manager be given so days notice
prior to December 81 If his services
are not to be required the following
year.
MIR. Campbell said he seconded the
motion with full recognition of the
able services Mr.. Hanrahan had per-
formed" The board chairman also
declared he has 'the greatest respect
for Mr.. Hanrahan's character"
Mr.. Campbell asserted he took the
action believing the best interests
of the county viii be served by. the
change"
Progress of 10 Years Cited.
Mr.. Chew charged small group
of citizens augmented by a certain
politician and Office holder. who is a
department head, who have been
Eopposed to the county manager, are
most anxious to get him out. II this
board sat here all day, ] would not
have sufficient time to extoll MIR.
Hanrahan."
| He added that "the progress Of
Arlington County over the past 10
years OF his administration stands as
monument to Frank Hanrahan."
Mr.. Hanrahan did not attend the
meeting but later in his office he in
dicated to reporters that he would
not resign and issued the following
| statement:
'I have given by best efforts to
Arlington County for more than 10
years. They have been 10 trying
years and the war years made the
job more difficult. I am not the one
to make an appraisal of my accom-
pIishments. I can only say have
tried to be fair and impartial to all
citizens and my recommendations to
tthe County Board have always rep
resented my best Judgment, giving
no thought at any time as to how I
would be affected personally. ! have
always held high the ethics of the
county manager form of government,
which I believe is what large ma
iority of Arlington citizens mostly
desire"
| After the vote Mr. Campbell an
nounced he would like to reverse
the position he took when retire
ment ordnance for county employees
recently was adopted: That the
county manager should be excluded
from the provisions of the law.
Favors Amendment.
He proposed that the ordnance
be amended to eliminate the pro-
vision excluding the county man
ager from its benefits. The board
passed the motion, with Mr.. De-
Lashmutt dissenting, that tho
change be- advertised and set No
vember 9 as the date for public
hearing.
| Mr.. DeLashmutt explained he OBJ
| jected to including any county en-
ployes making $4,000 or more an
nually until employees of elected
officials were included in the plan.
When the ordnance was adopted,
such employees were excluded and
the board reaffrmed the exclusion
yesterday under questioning OF Mr..
Lloyd, who also is chairman OF the
Retirement Board.
Utility Assessments.
Upon suggestion of Mr. Campbell,
the county manager was instructed
Ito confer with the Reassessment
| Board and the commissioner OF
revenue on the recent reasSessment
lof public service companies in
Arlington. Mr.. Campbell said he
did not believe the utilities assess
ments had been increased on the
same basis as those Of other prop
critics. The utility assessments are
made by the State Corporation Com
mission while other properties are
valued by the court-appointed,
three-man Reassessment Board.
The board authorized its Public
Utilities Commission to seek to EN-
lploy rate expert in connection
with the investigation of gas rates.
It also voted to inform the local
Democratic Executive Committee
that it was in accord with the purge
| of voters registration books re-
quested of the Circuit Court by the
tcommittee. The board said it would
consider an appropriation TO defray
}costs of the purge .'at the proper
ftime."
Montgomery Bluir PTA
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