Evening star., 1947-07-30
New UItimatum Given|
Budwesky on Delay inl|
Acquiring School Sites

City Manager Carl Budwesky OF
Alexandria today had a new ultl-
matum, after the City Council &C
cepted his report on the recent
designations of the police and IRE
chiefs last night.
The Councils new ultimatum,
however, did not carry with it a
resignation" threat, as did the
resolution adopted at a special
session Saturday ordering Mr.. Bud
wesky to report on the police and
fire chief designations.
Mr.. Budwesky was ordered, by 4
unanimous vote of the councilmen
present, to make a complete" report
on reasons for delay in the acquisi-
ton of school sites. His reports1s to
include all letters received from the
School Board or superintendent OF
schools relative to The school sites,
with a notation of action taken on
each letter since 1941 when, accord
ing to the councilmen,, acquisition
of sites was ordered. - ~.,t<r.rF
The councilmen ordered that this
report be furnished by August 9 so
that the matter can be taken up at
the August IL meeting.
Time of Order in Dispute.
The resolution calling for the
school site report was made by
Councilman Paul Delaney who asked
Mr.. Budwesky why there has been
such a delay in purchasing the
school SITES"
The city manager explained tnat
as soon as he was authorized te
buy the land needed, he had starteo
to do SO when the necessity OF con-
demnation proceedings halted his
plans.
well, did that take four or flvt
years?" asked Mr.. Delaney.
ITO the contrary-it has only
taken about 10 months" Mr.. Bud
wesky replied.
The point they disagreed on wa!
when the Council actually ordered
Mr.. Budwesky to go ahead with
purchase Of. the sites and whe1
funds were made available for th'
purchases. Mr.. Budweskys repor
is expected to supply the answers tt
those questions.
Councilman Charles NaSl
brought out that the sites woul'
cost the city much more at thi
time than when their purchase wa
first contemplated.
Charter Provisions Cited.
The report Mr.. Budwesky gave b
the councilmen last night cited
provision of the Alexandria Charte
that requires him to report on sucl
resignations at the next regula
Council meetings after they occur
He pointed out that Fire Chic
James M. Duncan, jr., submitte'
his resignation late In the Afternoon
on July % after a docket for tina
nights Council session already ha'
been prepared. Mr.. Budwesky ais
pointed out he did not attend tina
COUNCIL meeting.
The resignation of Police Chic
John S. Arnold, he said, was sub
mitted last Wednesdays day afte
the last regular Council session.
He told the council both resigna
tions had been acknowledged an
informally" accepted and that h
already had mailed formal accept
!, ance to the police and fire chiefs.
His report added that, since tn
{ council has abolished the office {
, chief of police, there is no vacanc
: in the police department" an
: Capt. Edgar A. Sims is thereby hea
of the department.
Fire Chief Duncan's letter cite
failure of the city to adopt fiji
prevention code as one Of the ir
, dications that the city heads woul
not cooperate with him.
S City Attorney Joseph M. Par
: coast said he had gone over par
E of the lengthy code and had starte
/ work on the city code, but that tt
committee had never met.
Starts Work on City Code.
"I don't think the lack of a fiji
: ordinance should be placed on tt
: Councils shoulders. That is ma
! ter for the fire Chief" Councilms
r. Samuel Luckett said.
. The Council voted to form ne
I committee consisting of the eli
: manager, the smoke control eng
o neer and the chiefs of all engil
. companies to work out the fire cod
Asked to clarity Police Chi
Z Arnolds statement in his letter I
$ resignation that he felt the council
a men were taking over administrati'
e matters that should be left to d
partment heads, Mr.. BudweSky sa