Evening star., 1948-08-04
Court Orders
City Status for
Falls Church
Second-CIoss Rotine
Expanding Powers
Effective August Is

lie VoWIl Oh FdlIS CQuTCIl VIII
become a city of the second class
August is and thus acquire certain
immunities and powers under Vir-
ginia annexation laws under an
order issued today by Judge Paul
Brown of Fairfax County Circuit
Court.
The order also increased the size
OF the Common Council from six
to nine members.
Other immediate effects of the
change. which is the result of a
special court-ordered census in May,
will be the creation of the Offices
OF commissioner of revenue and city
treasurer.
Cities of the second and first
class under Virginia law have power
to annex territory through court
action. At present a study is being
made of a proposal to annex about
five adjacent communities to Falls
Church.
1888 Persons in Town.
The May census established the
population of Falls Church at $3.50
inhabitants. A town must have
5000 to become a second-class city.
If the adjacent areas are annexed.
they would bring the total for Falls
Church to about $4,000 inhabitants
5000 more than required for a
city of the first class.
In either case, as a second or
first class city, Falls Church gains
immunity from annexation which
it does not now have as a town.
This would be of special significance
to the area if Arlington County
votes in referendum to incorpo-
rate as a first-class city. Such q
vote is permitted by law already
approved by the General Assembly.
A novel su nder way in Arlington
to make that county city. but the
present sentiment is to delay the
change until several major road
projects are completed by the State.
Once it becomes a city, Arlington
would lose many of its highway
benefits.
Court to Name Two Officers.
The new Falls Church Council,
which takes Office September /, will
appoint the three additional men,
bers. The Circuit Court will name
the commissioner of revenue and
treasurer until these offices can be
filled by election in November, 1949.
No decision has been reached by
the present council on the new men,
bers, according to Town Manager
Roy Dunn and Town Attorney La
Rue Van Meter. A decision prob
ably will not be made until the new
council, elected in June, takes Office
September l.. ,.
New members are Mrs. Merrill Lee
ohanel and Boyd A. Case. J. H.
mccarthy was reelected for a new
term beginning September and Al
bert M. Orme will assume duties as
Mayor on that date The three hold
over councilinen are A. T. Munson,
j. G. McRae and Sherman Wells.
Recently, DR.. Thomas H. Reed,
planning consultant and expert on
Virginia annexation procedure, sub
mitted report to the council recon-
mending that the town or second
class city absorb the communities of
Lee Boulevard Heights, Hillwood,
part of Sleepy Hollow, Jefferson VIII
lage and City Park.
Committee Studying Plan.
A committee composed of Mr.. Van
Meter, Mr.. Mccarthy and Mr.. Dunn
now is studying these recommended
tionS.
If the communities were taken
in to give the city first class
status, taxes within the newly
absorbed areas would have to remain
the same and all revenues returned
to those areas for improvements
for the first five years. AS an alter
native, the city could invest IL per
cent of the assessed value of all
acquired real estate in improve
ments within the areas.
The school system will continue
to be operated under the Fairfax
County system until the General
Assembly repeals an existing law.
Water and sewer facilities would
be taken over by the city. Water
already is being supplied the areas
and sewer facilities are extended
to part of the areas.
Mr.. Van Meter emphasized that
the most significant changes to re-
suit from today's court action de-
pend on the type of charter that Is
passed by the General Assembly
and on the administrative setup
approved by the new Common
Council