Evening star., 1951-12-25
By Mary Lou Werner

Most Of the important decisions
still lie ahead as Fairfax County
prepares for the shift to a new
form of government January l.
The incoming Board Of Super
visors which will take Office stimuli
taneously with the new county
executive government has reached
agreement on number of issues
arising from the transition.
But the problems that have re-
quired the most time and atten-
ton remain TO be solved.
Number one on the list is Sc
lection of a county executive. This
lis the top administrative position
under the new setup.
13 Applications Received.
So far, the supervisors have re-
ceived 13 applications. They have
interviewed three of the applicants,
but a majority of them feel there
hasn't been time to make proper
evaluation of the aspirants' quail
ficationS. There is strong senti-
ment among the supervisors for
making a temporary appointment
and leave the final selection until
later.
They are agreed, however, that
some kind of an appointment must
be made, because without it, the
supervisors hands are tied in
other matters. Appointment of
other major county posts can be
made only on the county execu-
tive's recommendation, such as
the finance director and director
Iof assessments.
If temporary county executive
lis appointed, the supervisors may
have him act as director of finance
until the permanent executive can
be appointed and recommend a
finance director. 49,
Decisions Wait Appointment.
Appointment Of a county execu-
tive, temporary or permanent, also
holds the key to assigning several
services within the framework of
the new government. 1t Is on the
executives recommendation that
the supervisors may set up divi-
sions of zoning, sewerage, and such
other services that are not specifi-
cally provided in the county ex-
ecutive plan, they have been ad-
viSed.
Another decision awaited by
county residents is the supervi-
|sors' appointment of school board
members. Under the old govern
Iment, school board members have
been appointed by committee
appointed by the Circuit Court.
The supervisors are known to
favor a seven-member school
board. with one member from
each magisterial district and one
at large. There has been no Off
cial announcement On this point,
however, nor have any of the
supervisors disclosed their choices
for school board appointments.
Rezening Question Posed.
The question of how rezoning
should be handled also is unde-
cided. A majority of the new
supervisors agreed several weeks
ago to hold up further rezoning
applications after January l be-
cause it appeared that a referen-
dunn would be required for every
zone change. This is because the
county executive act requires a
referendum for every change in
the zoning ordinance, and the
zoning map is considered part of
that ordinance.
Legal advisers to the super
visors are still studying the re-
zoning question, however, in
hopes that a loophole can be
found to avoid conducting a ref
Ierendum each time a rezoning re-
quest is made. In the meantime,
the supervisors have asked for
legislation Strengthening out the
zoning situation.
Clerk to Be Appointed.
There has been no pronounce
ment about who shall be clerk
Ito the supervisors. The county