Evening star., 1952-05-15
Text Of Robinson S
Plan 10 Establish
Advisory Council

The long-aWalted plan Tor eS-
tablishment of a citizens ad-
visory council under the District
reorganization bill was submitted
to the Senate today by Engineer
Commissioner Robinson.
The text of the plan follows:
/. COMPOSITION: The citi-
zens' advisory council shall con-
sist of nine members; provided.
however, that the Board of Dis
trict Commissioners may increase
the number of members should
the board decide that 1t is ad-
visable to do so.
It is believed that a small group
can perform the duties Of the
council more expeditiouSly and
efficiently than could a larger
group, which might be more in
clined to engage in extended dis
cussion than to arrive at con-
elusive action.
2. FUNCTION: To advise the
Board of Commissioners on mat
ters referred to it by the board
relative to the following:
a. Proposed legislation.
b. Regulations affecting the
public.
c. Matters of fiscal policy, in
Guiding the annual budget.
d. Other matters of broad public
policy.
Functions of the council will be
limited to the above, at least
initially. The council shall have
no administrative functions. Viola
tion of this principle would result
in delay and confusion on ad-
miniStrative matters, which are
the sole responsibility Of the
Board of Commissioners and their
department heads. The council
should not invade the field of the
several special technical commit
tees now in existence. such as the
Building Code Advisory Commit
tee, Traffic Advisory Board or Ad-
viSory Committee on Public
Works, or technical committees
which may hereafter be created.
These are appointed by the Board
of Commissioners to deal with
special problems, and members
are selected for their special abili-
ties to handle those problems.
These committees have been in
valuable to the Commissioners in
the past. and it is felt that any
absorption of their functions by
the council would decrease the
quality of the service rendered
and would decrease citizen partic-
ipation in government, thereby
defeating the very purpose of the
council which is to increase such
citizen participation. The council
Shall report only to the Board of
Commissioners.
3. QUALIFICATIONS: Men,
bers shall be United States citi-
zens. at least 80 years of age: who
are, and have been for a minimum
OF five years Immediately preced-
ing appointment, actual residents
of the District of Columbia and
have, during that period, claimed
residence nowhere else; and shall
hold not full-time Office for which
compensation is paid from D. c.
funds.
4. SELECTION: This will be
based upon knowledge of the Dis
trict. ability and standing in the
community. Those selected should
be high caliber persons, whose
stature and proven civic con-
Siousness will insure their overall
interest in the District of Colum-
bia as whole. There shall be no
ex off1co members, nor members
representing any special interest.
Selection will be strictly on the
basis of personal qualifications. All
members will be appointed by the
Board of Commissioners, and the
council itself will elect its chair
man. The Board of Commission
erS may remove any member upon
determination that it is not in the
public interest for such member to
continue to serve.
5. TERM: The term is fixed atI,
three years. Initially, however,
three will be appointed for q term
of three years; three for two years
and three for one year. No person
shall serve more than two con-
Secutive terms, but may be re-
appointed after a lapse of one
year. Should a vacancy occur
through the death, incapacity, or
removal of a member, a successor
will be appointed to complete the
unexpired term of that member.
6. COMPENSATION: Member
ship on the council will be re-
garded strictly as honorary, and
the members will receive no salary
or other compensation. Should
member incur expenses in the dis
charge of his duties as a member
of the council, reimbursement will
be considered as an administrative
expense (See 81.
7. MEETINGS: The council
shall meet at least once per month,
and shall hold additional meetings
at the call Of the Board of Com
missioners. On motion of the
council itself, or at the call of
the chairman of the council,
additional meetings may be held
when deemed necessary for action
on any business regularly before it.
8. ADMINISTRATION: The
secretary to the Board of Com