Evening star., 1949-10-21
Fairfax 10 Seek
Vote on Change
In Government
Citizens Federation
Sponsors County
Manager System

The Fairfax County Federation
of Citizens Associations last night
voted to sponsor a referendum on
a change in the form of govern
ment to the county manager
system. =
More than so representatives OF
citizens groups. meeting at An
nandale. School, instructed the
County Government Committee
to meet with other organizations
and start a drive to obtain sigma
lures to a petition for presenta-
ton to Circuit Court Judge Paul
e. Brown.
Harold A. Ward. former presi-
dent of the federation, urged that
a new drive for reorganization of
the county government be started
now A previous attempt to
change the government in 1910
was defeated.
Says People Are Ready.
1--WE have caught the opposition
at a low ebb," Mr.. Ward said.
''The people are ready for
change"
Edwin Lynch, Democratic nomi-
nee for the House of Dele
gates in the November 8 election,
told the group he is heartily in
favor" of the county manager
plan.
Mr.. Ward called for centralized
responsibility in our county gov
ernment." At present. he de-
clared. responsibility is dispersed
among elected and appointed Of
ficials.
The county manager plan, as
outlined by Mr.. Ward. would re-
tain the Board of Supervisors as
the elected body. The supervisors
would appoint the School Board
which now is named by the School
Trustee Electoral Board appointed
by the Circuit Court judge.
The duties of the Circuit Court
judge under the proposal would
be limited to the judiciary and to
elections" Mr.. Ward said.
Jobs Would Be Cut Off.
Adoption of the county man
ager system. he continued, would
eliminate the positions of commits
sioner of revenue and treasurer
A department of finance would be
established under the county
manager.
Mr.. Ward said the county man
ager proposal could have been
placed on the ballot in the No
yember 8 general election through
action of the present supervisors,
but they had refused to take the
Initiative on the proposal.
= In other action last night. the
federation adopted a resolution
urging complete reciprocity with
the District on fees required of
District physicians to practice in
Virginia:
Redistricting of the county to
, provide an odd number of magis-
terial districts also was urged.
Each of the new districts should
have approximately the same pop
ulation, the group recommended.
The change would be made
through petition to the Circuit
Court.
Two Boards Criticized.
Decisions of the Fairfax County
School Board and the Board of
Supervisors not to take the in
i.iative in launching a drive for
a school construction bond issue
were criticized sharply. A motion
presented by David Scull of An
nandale, adopted unanimously by
the group, declared, I'VE feel it
is part of their public response
bility to take the lead" on the bond
issue proposal.
The State Planning CommlS-
sion was asked to review the mas
ter zoning plan of the county
with a view to recommending
corrective measures as to the plan
and its administration Mr..
Ward, who presented the pro-
posal. attacked administration of
the present master plan.
Federation President Guy M.
Bayes of Chesterbrook appointed
a committee to study establish
ment of a county incinerator and
q trash and garbage collection
system. Named to the commit
tee were William Dunn of Co.
lumbia Pines and Rudy j.