Evening star., 1951-12-25
Some Problems Still UnsoIved
AS Fuirfux Faces Transition

executive law makes the court
clerk also clerk to the supervisors,
unless they choose to appoint
their own clerk. Thomas P.
Chapman, jr., Fairfax court clerk,
said he has not been notified
whether the supervisors plan to
make their own appointment.
Whether a central purchasing
Office is to be established for all
departments, including schools,
also remains on the undecided
list. The supervisors are known
to favor, however, a central pur-
chasing Office to cover every de-
partment - including schools -
and are expected to appoint a
purchasing agent as soon as one
can be recommended by the
executive.
Some of the undecided ques-
tionS are expected to be resolved
this week when the new supervi-
sors meet informally to prepare
for New Years Day organiza-
tional meeting.
Remaining Issues Listed.
Among the issues agreed on is
that separate department of
assessments should be created as
authorized under the county ex-
ecutive plan. The alternative was
to permit all assessing to be per-
formed by the department Of
finance.
The new supervisors also have
agreed to seek the following legis-
lation:
/. Permission to create a de-
partment of public works, which
would cover the county's sewerage
services and other engineering
works. The county executive plan
does not provide for a depart
ment Of public works in county
that participates in the State road
plan, as does Fairfax County.
2. Authority to employ a special
counsel for the supervisors, similar
to the position Of city attorney in
municipalities.
8. Clarification of zoning regu-
lations.
4. Grant the police department
the same powers it now has. There
is some question whether the
police under the county executive
setup would have the same au-
thority they now have under an
act of the Legislature that created
the present police department.
5. Appointment of the Board of
Library Trustees, by the supervi-
Sors, instead of the Circuit Court
as provided by the county execu-
tive law.
s. Allow the county executive to
make routine approval of claims,
instead Of having each bill ap-
proved by the supervisors before
it can be paid.
Z. Authority for an annual re-
assessment, which the county had
under the old setup but which
might not be possible the way the
county executive law reads.
8. Authority to impose an auto
mobile license tax and a business
tax based on gross receipts.
Questions Raised in Survey.
Most of the questions now be-
ing decided were raised in a sur
vey of the Government shift by
the University of Virginia Bu-
reau OF Public Administration.
The survey raised a number of
other questions. however, that the
have no plans to re-
solve with special decisions at
this time. They are questions
that will be answered by actions
OF the new supervisors from time
to time in the operation of the
new Government.
In this category are whether
the supervisors will deal directly
with department heads or leave
that to the county executive;
whether the supervisors will use
their appointing powers as a de-
vice to insure control over county
employees; whether the county ex-
ecutive is to be encouraged to
make independent recommended
tions for improving operation Of
the Government, and whether the
will limit themselves
to determining matters of policy
leaving administrative details
to the executive.
So far, the new supervisors
have confined themselves to pol
icy matters in their meetings to
prepare for the changeover. Mem
bers of the incoming board are
G. Wallace Carper, incumbent
chairman; Maurice Fox and Ar
thur Shaffer, incumbents, and
Stuart DeBell, Mrs. Anne Wilkins
and H r lott