Evening star., 1949-01-15

| Discussed at Session
| Of Board and Council
New delays in the settlement Of
problems arising from the growth
Of Falls Church were disclosed yes
terday at joint meeting Of the
City Council with the Fairfax
County Board of Supervisors.
The two governing bodies met to
discuss jurisdictional problems which
developed when Falls Church be-
came a second class city last August
Falls Church City Attorney LaRue
Van Meter said he had not filed a
friendly" suit to determine whether
the county or the city should con-
troll schools in Falls Church because
he did not have legal proof that a
dispute existed. He presented a
resolution adopted by the Falls
Church council asking that the
schools in the city be turned over
to the city. BY denying this re-
quest, he explained, the supervisors
would definitely establish a dispute"
that the courts could be asked to
settle.
Called Delaying Act
Holding up the suit and coming
back here today is just a delaying
act" said Fairfax Commonwealth S
Attorney Hugh Marsh. II thought it
was agreed in November that Mr..
Van Meter was to file the suit. Now
he takes the position that he must
have technical proof that the
Board Of Supervisors will not turn
over the schools"
Mr.. Marsh said the supervisors
had no right to act on the city's
request until the Fairfax School
Board had acted Members of the
School Board said they would act
on the request Tuesday, provided
they received it in writing by then
1t was understood the School
Board will refuse to turn over Fair
fax schools in Falls Church to the
city, and the request then will come
before the supervisors again Wednes-
day for their denial.
Mr.. Marsh said in view Of develop
ments he would be unwilling to ac-
cept service of the suit when it is
filed. This. he explained, would
mean he would require the formal
IS days notice of filing before he
would answer.
City Asks Tax Share.
Falls Church also asked the
supervisors to agree to pay to the
city all urexpended balances. as of
August 16, 1948. of a proportionate
share of real estate taxes. Pay
ment of a proportionate share of
back Falls Church taxes collected
in the future also was asked. The
supervisors said they would study
the requests.
Fairfax agreed to continue tenn
porarily to administer Falls Church
welfare activities. Supervisor Maui
rice Fox said as soon as the county
Welfare Department received writ
ten assurance from Falls Church
that the county would be re-
imbursed for welfare funds spent
in the city, seven welfare checks
which have been withheld this
month would be mailed out Falls
Church had proposed that Fairfax
continue to handle the city's well
fare activities on q permanent
basis. -+
Other problems discussed in
cluded: Whether Falls Church
should contribute to the county
agents salary; if Falls Church's
new status affects the trial justice
court. and what county depart
ments, If any, would continue to
serve Falls Church.
Mr.. Malsh said he believed most
matters could be settled out of
court. I'm most cases, it is just a
question OF the ratio of population, +"
he said.
Asked to Make Study.
He referred to the settlement of
tax claims, and bonded indebted
ness that have to be aportioned be-
tween the two Jurisdictions. Mr..
Marsh was asked to make a study
with county department heads of
the problems involved, and report
back to the supervisors.
At the outset of the meeting, a
Falls Church spokesman asked the
county to work with the city in
determining the population and
assessed value in the area Falls
Church is considering for possible
annexation from Fairfax.
Wallace Carper, chairman of the
Board of Supervisors, said, I'VE
don't have anybody on our payroll
to help you enter an annexation
suit against u.s."