Evening star., 1950-08-03

his son, William, student at
Wisconsin university, also were
involved.
Officials Clash.
There was also a tense moment
between Councilman Samuel Nc
Crary and City Attorney LaRue
Van Meter. Mr.. McCrary said
later that the city attorney had
threatened him, but Mr.. Van
Meter said he had only warned
"Sam, don't push me-"
Donald S. Frady. city forester,
and others broke up the fight as
tempers ran high and a free-for-
all seemed imminent. Ollie Tin
ner, colored civic leader. COM
mented, 1--WE lived within two
blocks of this city hall for SO
years and I've never seen any
thing like this
Chief of Police E. H. Howe was
called to the scene.
Lytton H. Gibson, Falls Church
attorney and former assistant
commemorative attorney of Fair
fax County, said after the meet
ing that Mr.. Wells appointment
will be challenged in Circuit Court
on the grounds that the new man
ager is mot qualified for the posi-
ton"
Mr.. Anderson announced that
q meeting of a special committee
considering applications for the
city manager position will be held
at 8 o'clock tonight.
6-2 Vote for Wells.
The vote on appointment of
Mr.. Wells was 6-2. Supporting
Mr.. Dunn were Mr.. McCrary and
James E. Durant. Councilman
Sherman Wells, the father OF
Harry Wells, did not vote.
Soon after 1880 pm, a hall
hour before the scheduled open
ing of the meeting. the small
council chamber began filling up
Mayor Albert M. Orme an
nounced that "a quorum of the
City Council" at a closed session
after the regular meeting Mon
day night, had agreed to call the
special session to appoint a city
manager. He said the members
present at the closed session were
Sherman Wells, Lee M. Rhoads,
Mrs. Jenness Writ Myer, Carl
Hink and Mr.. Anderson.
Three Members Absent.
John C. McRae, j. H. Mccarthy
and Mr.. Durant, the Mayor said,
were absent.
At last nights meeting, Mr..
McCrary protested that he had
not been informed of the Monday
night special session. The Mayor
said that the councilman was
asked to attend. Mr.. McCrary's
reply-"that, sir, is not true"
drew wild applause from the audi
ence. The Mayor threatened to
clear the room.
Mr.. McCrary then insisted that
minutes of seven previous meet
ings be read before. proceeding
with any other business but
Mayor Orme overruled this.
When Mr.. McCrary renewed
his objections to continuing the
meeting, the mayor ordered him
to be seated. The councilman
said he would challenge the le-
gality of the special session.
Immediate appointment of a
city manager, the mayor said, was
necessary because bonds for
school construction might not be
legal if they were signed by the
acting city manager. Mr.. Dunn
Dunn Named in 1947.
Mr.. Dunn, in 1947, was appoint
ed the first manager in the
towns history. In 1948, when the
status of Falls Church changed
he became city manager.
a new charter adopted this yeal
vastly strengthens the manager:
Office, however, and requires the
council to take action either ap-
pointing Mr.. Dunn to the position
or naming successor. Mr.. Dunr
was appointed acting city manager
pending consideration of Other
applications for the position.
The mayor announced that Mr.
Dunn would be given severa
months severance pay. 1t was
learned after the meeting thai
the new managers pay will not
be increased above his present
salary because of pending council
action on o permanent appoint
uaent."