Evening star., 1950-03-07
Virginia Senate
Gets Charter Bill
For Falls Church
Committee 7 Takes Up
Revised Proposal
Approved by House
By Alex R. Preston
Stor Sfoff Correspondent


By Alex R. Preston
stor stoff Correspondent
RICHMOND, Va. Mar. IA
proposed Falls Church charter
containing a number of revisions
approved by the House of Dele
gates, was before a Senate COM
mittee today.
The major changes in the bill
since its introduction would:
Remove a provision for non
partisan elections for the City
Council and. instead. permit-but
not require-primaries for these
Offices.
Remove provision for school
board elected directly by the
people so as to require members
to be elected by the City Council
Give all voters a chance to pass
on bond issues but permit free
holders property owners) to have
what would amount to veto power
The charter bill. introduced by
Delegate Edwin w. Lynch, was
among more than 200 passed by
the House on the deadline Sat-
urday.
Amendments Not Read.
So great was the haste to
save a back log of legislation from
being killed that the House ap-
proved the amendments which
were not read. ..
AS drafted. the bill would have
prohibited the holding of pri-
mary elections for council men,
bers and provided for their
nomination only by petition. -
This was amended to read that
candidates may be nominated
by petition or under general law
Instead of the seven-member
school board being elected by the
qualified voters, this is what is
proposed:
Present members would fill out
their unexpired terms. On the
first Monday in June of this year
the council would elect two men,
bers for terms beginning July /,
Two more would be elected by the
council in 1851 and three more
would be elected in 1852. All
would serve tl1ree-year terms and
the process would be repeated
with the result that two, two and
three board members would be
named in successive years.
Bond Issue Restrictions.
With respect to the issuance
OF bonds, language was retained
which requires a two-thirds vote
OF the council before referendum
is ordered. This machinery, with
respect to the referendum. has
been added, however: ~ 4s
Two ballot boxes would be set
up in each precinct-one for free
holders who also are qualified
voters. and the other for qualified
voters who do not own property in
the city. If a majority of the
freeholders approve the bond is
sue, then the total of votes cast
in both ballot boxes would govern
the outcome of the question.
On the other hand, if the free
holders voted against the issue
that would end the matter.
In other sections of the pro-
posed charter, the Council would
have all of the bond issuing power
granted by general law or by the
State constitution except that a
limitation Of 100000 would be
placed on the amount of bonds
without the referendum-which
could be issued for revenue-pro-
ducing projects such as water,
sewers and municipal parking lots.
Clarke Proposal Replaced.
Other changes in the bill pro-
vide:
For removal of language stating
mo person holding a position in
the classified service of the city
shall take any part in the man
agement or political campaign of
any political organization or in
the political campaign of any
candidate for public Office in the
city Except to be a candidate)
further than in the exercise of his
rights as a citizen to express his
opinion and to cast his vote"
For removal of council mem
bers in accordance with terms of
the general law. This replaces
language sponsored by Senator
Andrew w. Clarke, Alexandria
which would have given a ma
1ority on the malfeasance or mis-
feasance after a hearing.
Restrict the councils powers to
regulate the subdivision of land
to the area within the city.
Language extending this power to
one mile beyond the city limits
IN some cases, and three miles in
others, was stricken from the bill.
Most Virginia cities have plan
ming authority for three miles be-
yond their limits but they usually
are not surrounded by counties
which have planning and zoning
agencies Sl1ch aS A,~li,,r+o,, -.